Robust Coordination of Electricity and Gas Networks Integrated With Energy Hubs, Rooftop Solar Homes, and Responsive Loads

Abstract

This paper presents a robust framework for optimally coordinating integrated electricity and gas networks incorporating energy hubs and active loads. The energy hubs contain different sources, converters, and storage units to supply a variety of consumers. The designed system internally exchanges energy and gas using interface equipment and it simultaneously can participate in the day-ahead markets. This study also investigates the influence of various components such as renewable resources and energy storage systems on reactive power management. According to the high penetration of renewable energies and their significant impact on the network operation, a robust method consisting of information gap decision theory and fuzzy approach is applied to handle the uncertainty of wind and solar units. In addition, the role of flexible loads and prosumers is investigated by a time-based strategy, and eventually, a sensitivity analysis is implemented to evaluate the behavior of critical parameters. The presented model is a non-linear type that is linearized utilizing appropriate procedures to guarantee the problem convergence. The results show that the robust optimization with the maximum confidence level increases pollution and cost functions by 14.73% and 49.68%, respectively. In return, active loads decrease the mentioned values by 7.67% and 16.04%, respectively which validates their notable effects. The reactive power control of renewable resources and storage systems reduces the reactive power transferring through tie-lines and consequently improves technical specifications.

Keywords

• Active load
• environmental pollution
• energy hub
• fuzzy approach
• integrated electricity and gas networks
• robust optimization