Cycling Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy Generation in the Costs of Conventional Generators

Vincenzo Bassi, Eduardo Pereira-Bonvallet, Md Abu Abdullah and Rodrigo Palma-Behnke
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Vincenzo Bassi: Energy Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8370451, Chile
Eduardo Pereira-Bonvallet: SPEC Energy Consulting, Cerro Colorado 5858/212, Las Condes, Santiago 7561272, Chile
Md Abu Abdullah: Energy Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8370451, Chile
Rodrigo Palma-Behnke: Energy Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8370451, Chile

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: This paper proposes a set of indicators to quantify the impact of conventional thermal generating unit cycling on its non-fuel variable costs ( NFVC ) due to generation mix changes in the system. A novel iterative cost adjustment framework is developed to evaluate the proposed indicators in order to assess the impacts of increasing installation of renewable resources on operation costs of the thermal units. The proposed framework allows private investors to estimate NFVC using a minimum level of information without a full knowledge of the system parameters. Additionally, the proposed framework is kept generic, which supports the NFVC adjustment for the conventional thermal units in a changing market environment. The impact of accelerated solar photovoltaic penetration on cycling and operational costs of existing thermal power plants in the Chilean power system is assessed using the indicators and methodology developed. The results suggest that natural gas driven peaking power plants are more susceptible to experiencing increased NFVC from solar photovoltaic growth than coal fired base load power plants.

Keywords: thermal generator; solar photovoltaic; operation costs; unit commitment; generator ageing; cycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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