Emission Constrained Generation Expansion Planning considering Site-dependent Renewable Energy Sources of Pakistan

Abstract

The electric power industry has placed a high priority on reducing carbon emissions to mitigate their negative impact on the environment and to promote cost-effectiveness. To achieve this goal, the industry is increasingly integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into its expansion planning. However, the effectiveness of these sources varies considerably depending on the location. To minimize carbon emissions and costs, a study was conducted to develop a framework to solve the emission-constrained generation expansion problem using the GAMS optimization tool. This model incorporated a site dependent exploration of renewable energy sources, specifically solar and wind power potential of Pakistan. The study compared the carbon emission results with the base case that did not consider the site dependent Renewable Energy Sources and found that incorporating site-specific Renewable Energy Sources significantly reduced carbon emissions. The research highlights the importance of site-specific selection of renewable energy sources to ensure efficient deployment of renewable energy sources across different locations. It also provides valuable insights into the potential of renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions in the electrical power industry. By prioritizing site-specific renewable energy sources, power system planners can effectively incorporate renewable energy sources into their expansion plans to reduce carbon emissions. Exploring Pakistan's renewable potential, as recommended by this study, can reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels for energy generation.