Unified Gas and Electric Unit Commitment with Coordinated Generator Contingency
Date
February 9, 2018
Description
Abstract:
The inter-dependency between the gas and electric grid is growing, as reliance on gas-fired generators increases. Strong coupling between the two large infrastructures increases the power grid vulnerability, as contingencies in the gas network can cause shortages across multiple generators. Hence, a first necessary step is to secure the system by establishing a coordinated analysis of contingencies and a planning and operational framework to ensure resilience to single events in either infrastructure, gas or grid.
To address this need we introduce the Gas and Electric Grid Coordinated Unit Commitment (GECUC) problem. We apply the standard DC power flow approximation, and propose a new formulation to relax the nonlinear gas grid constraints so that the GECUC can be mapped into a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP). In addition, the N-1 contingencies are considered in light of the new gas grid constraints. More specifically, the Gas Grid impacts how gas-fired generators can respond during contingencies. Finally, we consider how single failures in the Gas Grid (e.g. compressors) might map to an N-x set in the Electric Grid to determine which compressors are most critical and demand greater monitoring.