Pricing electricity in constrained networks dominated by stochastic renewable generation and electric energy storage

Abstract

This paper studies the electricity price formation in a competitive market when introducing generation from variable renewable energy technologies with zero marginal cost and electric energy storage systems. A power system is analyzed with a stochastic optimization model combining multi-period optimal power flow with stochastic dynamic programming. The results illustrate how variable renewable energy, in this case solar photo-voltaic generation, displaces some of the expensive thermal generation and reduces the price. Electric energy storage will reduce the price variations caused by the variable renewable generation and demand as the time with price cap and zero price is reduced. In systems with only variable renewable generation and energy storage, the price will be set by the probability of scarcity similar to the price formation in hydro power dominated systems. The price will indicated the future cost of scarcity as a stochastic expectation value. This paper assumes that the demand is inflexible. However, the resulting electricity prices will remunerate provision of flexibility, which in turn will contribute to securing the supply and reducing the price volatility. Keywords Electricity priceVariable renewable energyElectric energy storageStochastic dynamic programmingMulti-period optimal power flowSplinesInfinite horizon