Overview of power system flexibility in a high penetration of renewable energy system

Abstract

As the penetration of renewable power increases, the associated challenges in power systems also increase. It is expected that a power system faces increasing flexibility on conventional thermal generators, energy storages, demand side management, or increased interconnection cooperated with up-growing contributions from variable renewable energy sources. Therefore, energy from less flexible baseload generators needs to be replaced by a combination of renewable energy sources and more flexible conventional resources. This work will introduce the characteristics of flexibility in power systems, investigate the tools and metrics for evaluating flexibility, and concluding main sources of operational flexibility in power systems.