Operational Planning of Energy for Non-Interconnected Zones: A Simulation-Optimization Approach and a Case Study to Tackle Energy Poverty in Colombia

Abstract

There is a need to look for alternative sources of renewable energy, especially in zones where people continue to live under energy poverty conditions. Consequently, to enhance the performance of energy systems, algorithms to support planning decisions are required. This article proposes a simulation-optimization framework to solve the stochastic version of the integrated energy dispatch and unit commitment problem for a solar radiation system operating in non-interconnected zones. Our study was motivated by challenges faced by a rural school located in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Particularly, a simulation with optimization-based iterations approach is used, modeling solar radiation as a random variable. The optimization phase uses a heuristic procedure that enables good solutions to be found in short computational times. To test our method, computational experiments were conducted using a set of randomly generated cases. The results suggest that our approach is useful and able to handle the random nature of the process for the school “Volcanes”. Additionally, we were able to quantify the impact that using a deterministic approach has on service levels for such systems. The novelty of the article lies in the proposed method and its application to a rural school with a low-budget system.

Addressing Multidimensional Energy Poverty Implications on Achieving Sustainable Development

“…Firstly, in North America, the main energy-related issues are mainly affordability in Canada [44,45], the USA [46,47], and Mexico [48]. Nevertheless, in South America, accessibility issues are assessed in some studies, such as in Colombia [49], Argentina [50], Latin America in general [19], and Chile [51][52][53].…”

Search Space Reduction for the Thermal Unit Commitment Problem through a Relevance Matrix

“…For this reason, experts address the thermal unit commitment (TUC) problem from several perspectives and apply different solving techniques. Obtaining solutions that balance generation costs and computational burden is usually the goal of electrical system researchers in many countries [1][2][3]. The major challenge regarding TUC comes from the specific characteristics of power generation planning problems in general [4], which consist of two stages [5]: (i) the operation decisions (ON/OFF) of the power plants, known as unit commitment (UC), and (ii) the economic dispatch of the plants in operation.…”

Metodología para la selección de tecnologías en proyectos de energización rural

“…En Colombia, una tercera parte de la población se ubica en zonas urbanas, y aproximadamente el 96 % tiene acceso a energía eléctrica, según datos del Sistema de Información Minero Energético Colombiano [1]. Sin embargo, cerca de un millón de familias pertenecientes a zonas rurales no cuentan con acceso a este servicio [2]. La mayoría de estos hogares sin electricidad están ubicados en zonas rurales donde la pobreza afecta al 38,6 % de la población.…”