The Low-carbon Expansion Generation Optimization (LEGO) open source model is a mixed-integer quadratically constrained expansion planning program capable of optimizing generation and transmission investments, as well as operating decisions for current and future highly-renewable power systems.
LEGO is a complex yet easy to handle multitool, applicable for academic research, commissioned research projects, as well as teaching. LEGO’s modeling philosophies are: modularity and flexibility. Its underlying temporal framework enables addressing a plethora of technical, economic, and policy studies. Depending on a studies’ scope one can compose their individual modeling environment of interest, by simply deciding which thematic LEGO blocks to use and which to omit.
Model Description
LEGO’s objective function minimizes total system costs (investment and operational) for a static horizon e.g., one year. LEGO runs on either chronological hourly data, or representative periods. This, for example, provides computational advantages of representative period frameworks when modeling short- and long-term storage technologies simultaneously. LEGO currently includes following model option blocks:
- mixed-integer (MIP) versus a relaxed MIP framework
(MIP framework enables unit commitment (UC) constraints) - enabling network constraints or omitting them (single node problem)
- DC- versus AC-Optimal Power Flow (via second order cone programming (SOCP))
- enabling or omitting demand-side management (DSM)
- enabling or omitting rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) constraints
- enabling or omitting cycle depth stress function (CDSF) constraints
- enabling or omitting the hydrogen sector e.g., electrolyzer units
Alongside model options, one can specify their individual generation and/or transmission investment portfolio. Thus, one can decide if LEGO considers a
- generation (GEP)
- transmission (TEP)
- generation and transmission (GEP & TEP) expansion or
- operational-only
problem.
Last but not least, LEGO also includes various policy options:
- Green production specifies the minimum share of total demand to be covered from renewable generation
- Carbon budget specifies the total CO2 emission budget and a CO2 price
- Firm capacity specifies the minimum share of firm generation capacity
