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Abstract:

This research aims to develop a more efficient and effective way to plan and manage the integration of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) into the power grid. The approach involves developing a multi-sectoral unit commitment and energy dispatch (UCED) model, which optimally dispatches all cross-sectoral and power generation technologies and preallocates the state of charge of all storage technologies to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply. A soft-linking framework that links the multi-sectoral UCED model with the Energy System Optimization Model (ESOM) is also developed, which can provide valuable information on the energy demand and supply, as well as the economic and environmental impacts of different energy scenarios. The research objectives of this study are: 1) to develop a multi-sectoral UCED model, 2) to investigate the impact of different model formulations on the speed and accuracy of the UCED model, 3) to develop and generalize a uni-directional and bi-directional soft-linking methodology capable of linking any ESOM model to the UCED model, 4) to apply the proposed uni-directional soft-linking methodology to a case study involving the JRC-EU-TIMES ESOM model and Dispa-SET UCED model, 5) to apply the proposed bi-directional soft-linking methodology to a case study involving the EnergyScope ESOM model and Dispa-SET UCED model, and 6) to find a trade-off between computation time and accuracy of the bi-directional soft-linking methodology. The main research challenge addressed by this study is the integration of high shares of VRES into the energy system, which is one of the main challenges of the energy transition. The study is important because by optimally managing the integration of these sources, the models can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way. The sector-coupling, which is the integration of different energy sectors such as power, heating, gas, chemicals, and transportation, can also contribute to reaching carbon neutrality by increasing the flexibility and efficiency of the overall system. The primary advantage of utilizing a multi-sectoral UCED model is the enhanced precision and accuracy in assessing the operation of the energy system, specifically with regard to cross-sectoral technologies and the integration of high levels of VRES. A secondary advantage is the capacity to effectively evaluate the interactions and energy flows between the electricity and non-electricity sectors, through the inclusion of detailed representations of storage and demand-side management technologies. This enables a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic and complex relationships between these sectors. Furthermore, the multi-sectoral UCED model allows for the optimization of resource allocation by incorporating both volume-based and cost-based constraints. This enables a comprehensive evaluation of the trade-offs between resource availability and cost. The soft-linking framework has the ability to link the multi-sectoral UCED model with the ESOM model in a uni-directional or bi-directional way with feedback loops. By linking the two models, the UCED model can use the outputs from the ESOM model to assess the reliability and stability of the system and make more accurate predictions and decisions. The feedback loops between the two models can also enable the continuous optimization of the energy system, which can help to achieve carbon neutrality. The study also focuses on investigating the impact of different model formulations on the speed and accuracy of the UCED model, as well as the impact of various factors on the outcome of uni-directional and bi-directional soft-linking. The goal is to determine if the overall impact is significant enough to potentially overcome the issue of undersizing the system when using the ESOM as a stand-alone tool. The case studies involving the JRC-EU-TIMES and EnergyScope demonstrate the advantages of using the uni-directional and bi-directional soft-linking.