An operationally induced approach to reliability-oriented ACOPF-constrained planning of interconnected multicarrier energy hubs: An MILP formulation

Energy hubs (EHs) are considered as prospective frameworks for future high-reliability energy systems, as interfaces for generation, conversion, storage, and consumption of different energy carriers. Interoperability and interconnection of the EHs may improve the reliability of the system, therefore, the system planning and operation should be constrained by AC optimal power flow (ACOPF), to ensure connectivity of the EHs and optimality of the operation. The main contribution of this paper lies in introducing an innovative operationally induced approach to reliability-oriented ACOPF-constrained planning of interconnected EHs. This manuscript presents an efficient mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation, aiming to result in optimal reliable and economic planning and scheduling of the microgrids including interconnected EHs, while reducing the computational effort. Further, this research investigates the effect of EHs interconnection and demand response (DR) on optimal planning and scheduling of microgrids. This is implemented on the IEEE 33-bus distribution test system by operating EHs in interconnected mode, revealing a significant improvement in reliability (CIC: customer interruption cost, ENS: energy not supplied, and EIR: energy index of reliability), economic (DSOBenefit, EnergyRevenue, INVC & OPC: investment and operation costs), renewable energy share (REC: renewable energy curtailment, REUF: renewable energy utilization factor, and WPPCC: Wind-photovoltaic generation Pearson correlation coefficient), and microgrid-maingrid energy exchange.