LONG-TERM PLANNING OF ELECTRIC POWER INFRASTRUCTURES CONSIDERING RENEWABLE ENERGY SUPPLY IN QATAR

Abstract

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have been a major contributor to the global warming that the world has been suffering from for many years. It is a challenging matter that, although is clear in its effects, faces obstacles due to the continuous developments witnessed in the world, which hinders the immediate action towards mitigating their effects. Major efforts are taking place to address this matter globally. In Qatar, remarkable goals and actions have been set and taken in this regard. This projectinvestigates a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model that enables optimal strategic planning, over a long-term horizon of 30 years, of the electric power infrastructure. The objective is to minimize the investment and operating costs while meeting specific reduced targets of carbon dioxide, fulfilling the expected electricity demand, and accommodating technical operating constraints along with the specific variability and intermittency characteristics of renewable energy sources. Solar PV power plants were favored due to their reduced costs compared to other renewable plants. Other renewable technologies are expected to witness continuous improvement in cost reductions and technology efficiencies by the time they are required to be integrated into the system.