Energy storage technologies (and especially batteries) are bound to play a fundamental role in the transition to a decarbonized power system. It will be a key ingredient to integrate a high penetration of renewables and to provide flexibility and services to power and distribution system operators. Among these services is the provision of operating reserves or congestion management. However, under the current regulatory scheme the economic viability of these services is by no means guaranteed in the power system of the future.The main objective of this project is: first, to quantify the social and environmental welfare generated by storage technologies in highly decarbonized power systems; second, to analyze which of the services are economically viable in a liberalized electricity sector; and finally, establish which are the regulatory measures most adequate to guarantee the economic viability of storage technologies thereby closing the gap between the technically possible and the economically viable.

In this project we review the state of the art of short-term operation models with two complementary focuses: i. the first one emphasizing the representation of the transmission network and ii. the second one the thermal units. The latest objective of this review is to allow the development of a single model for supportin the short-term operation including both perspectives. The state of the art review will include not only an academic point of view but also the mathematical specification and the computer implementation in models suitable for being used in the daily operation of the Colombian system done by the Dispatch.

The objectives of the project include a strategic analysis in order to consider which factors among those that currently determine de Spanish and Portuguese electric system are the most relevant for generation expansion as well as the best way to address them, the continuous update of the methods that are currently used and the assistance in the usage of the models and tools that are active nowadays.

An an effort to mitigate climate change and to achieve a sustainable supply of energy, the Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad – and in particular the Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016 – seeks to promote research and development (R&D) of renewable energy (RE) technologies and to foster their adoption by the market. The challenge to obtain “safe, efficient and clean energy”, declared by the Estrategia Española de Ciencia y Tecnología y de Innovación, is also in line with the the EU’s Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan). Indeed, given the deregulation of energy sectors, i.e., both electricity and natural gas, in most EU member states, power companies would adopt RE technologies only if they contributed to their profit-maximising incentives. Furthermore, since RE technologies like wind and solar power are typically intermittent and uncertain in their output and geographically dispersed, their viability will depend on integration with the existing transmission network. However, grid-expansion decisions are taken by separate entities with differing and even conflicting objectives, i.e., welfare-maximising regulated transmission system operators (TSOs). Most policy-enabling models of the EU energy system overlook these intricacies and are based on assumptions of either perfect competition or perfect foresight, which do not adequately reflect the current paradigm and, thus, may lead to flawed market designs. Consequently, in order for the Spanish Plan Estatal’s objectives to be achieved, policymakers and market participants alike will require an enhanced understanding of how market fundamentals and strategic behaviour interact. Towards that end, STEXEM will develop completely new models that will be better suited for the research challenge of uncovering the impact of policy measures and market designs on investment and operational decisions in deregulated industries. Moreover, STEXEM will carry out state-of-the-art analyses based on stochastic optimisation and game theory in order to provide insights on efficient market design, the sustainable integration of RE and storage technologies, and the transmission investment necessary to maintain system security.

Development of a medium-term electricity generation model for the Mexican electric energy system able to represent the transmission network (500-600 nodes). The model is to be used to forecast nodal electricity prices.

The main goal of this project is to extend the capabilities of Expande model in order to take into account when making investment decisions, both in thermal and in renewable technologies, technical details that arise in hourly operation. Besides, the model allows to include profitability and other strategic criteria.

In this project tasks to maximize the capabilities of the new estimation module renewable capacity were developed. Some parts of the algorithm that were heuristically computed, as the annual breakdown of the new investments are now more systematically. The new model also allows extensions to include performance criteria in calculating the expansion. Open tasks also are considered to adapt the model to the circumstances of the sector during 2015.

The aim of this collaboration between IIT and Endesa is to continue the development of the ARIES tool for long-term risk management. Specifically, in this stage the adaptation of the tool to the user´s needs is addressed, as well as the implementation of improvements in the long-term time series module and in the electric market module.

Collaboration with KAPSARC’s energy systems modeling team on the development of the KAPSARC Energy Model. This involves providing assistance and suggestions on various modeling issues, like the incorporation of intermittent sources of energy or the formulation of MPEC/EPEC problems.

This proyect is a collaboration between the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, the Universidad de Cantabria and Innomerics under the RETOS program to develop innovative modeling tools to increase the operating and economic efficiency of thermal generators. Please see the Spanish description for further details.

This project deals with the analysis and improvement of algorithms and methods used by Endesa for the preparation of its annual capacity plan and to other studies associated with it. During 2013 the model Expande has been extended to work with multiple scenarios considering some stochastic input variables. Project goals include continuous updating of the methods used to enhance and expand the capabilities of the models, adapt to ensure regulatory changes expected to be presented in the coming months and assistance for the use of the tools. This proposal raises on the one hand tasks oriented to stochastic modeling and on the other, tasks to refine the results obtained in the execution based of scenarios.

The objective of this project between IIT and Endesa is to continue the development of a tool which allows Endesa to meet the needs and requirements for the risk decision-making process in the long term (more than three years). In this second phase, the development of the simulation module of risk factors and the simulation module of the electricity market is carried out. Then, the results of both modules are used to perform a preliminary version of the profit calculation module.

This project consists in reviewing and enhancing the algorithms that are currently used in the Central America regional electricity market in order to improve the representation both of the power plants technical constraints and of the different kinds of contracts considered by the market rules.

The objective of this project between IIT and Endesa is to perform a first phase to provide Endesa with a tool able to meet the needs and requirements for the risk decision-making process in the long term (more than three years). This first stage is to carry out the conceptual development and define the architecture of the tool.

Joint work of IIT and Endesa about Strategic Analysis of Generation Capacity Expansion. The main objective is about analysis and improvement of the algorithms and study methods used by Endesa in order to elaborate its yearly expansion plan and other studies associated to it. The results of this work are two tools: EXPANDE (capacity expansion) and a tool (MERCO2) to estimate the price of CO2 emission allowances.This year the objectives include the adaptation to a new demand structure with high penetration of renewable generation plants, introduce the new Spanish generation tax and the improvement of the interface.

This project represents an integrated educational and research program for graduate and postgraduate students and professors at the Johns Hopkins U., Texas Tech U., Smith College, U. of Puerto Rico and their international collaborators at the Danish Technical U. (DTU) and the Risø Laboratory in Denmark, ECN in the Netherlands, EPFL in Switzerland, Katholieke U. Leuven in Belgium and Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Spain. The collaboration is aimed at analyzing research issues such as the introduction of multiple wind generators in the electrical system, origins of fluctuations, statistical characterization and propagation of variability and the economic and social implications of the design and operation of a source of sustainable generation. With hundreds of billions of dollars invested in renewable generation and the associated structure in the coming years, it is crucial to develop tools to manage the variability to make effective and sustainable but intermittent use of these resources. The research is coupled with a student training program that includes carefully designed international experiences. Comillas collaborates in the training of students in research topics of integration of wind generation, and in particular developing different research projects focused on the integration of wind generation in electricity markets, from the analysis of short and long market rules term to the study of the expansion of the networks in markets of regional scope, in order to evaluate how to take advantage of the complementarities of the different technologies in a supranational (supra-state) scope.

Joint work of IIT and Endesa about Strategic Analysis of Generation Capacity Expansion. The main objective is about analysis and improvement of the algorithms and study methods used by Endesa in order to elaborate its yearly expansion plan and other studies associated to it. The results of this work are two tools EXPANDE capacity expansion and a new tool (MERCO2) to estimate the price of CO2 emission allowances in under development. The objetives of the project include maintenance of the firts model the enhancement of the representation on non-electrical sectors in the second one.

This project is the continuation of a line of cooperation between IIT and Endesa about Strategic Analysis of Generation Capacity Expansion. The main work is about analysis and improvement of the algorithms and study methods used by Endesa in order to elaborate its yearly expansion plan and other studies associated to it. The result of this work is the tool EXPANDE. Aditionally a new tool (MERCO2) to estimate the price of CO2 emission allowances in under development.

This project is the continuation of a line of cooperation between IIT and Endesa about Strategic Analysis of Generation Capacity Expansion. The main work is about analysis and improvement of the algorithms and study methods used by Endesa in order to elaborate its yearly expansion plan and other studies associated to it. The result of this work is the tool EXPANDE. In this collaboration focus will be on the new regulation about national coal plants and analizing the effect of wind generation plants in the system.

This project is the continuation of a line of cooperation between IIT and Endesa about Strategic Analysis of Generation Capacity Expansion. The main work is about analysis and improvement of the algorithms and study methods used by Endesa in order to elaborate its yearly expansion plan and other studies associated to it. The result of this work is the tool EXPANDE. A convolution-based method will be used to study the effect of non-dispatchable energy.