An inexact robust optimization method for supporting carbon dioxide emissions management in regional electric-power systems

In this study, an inexact robust optimization method (IROM) is developed for supporting carbon dioxide (CO2) emission management in a regional-scale energy system, through incorporating interval-parameter programming (IPP) within a robust optimization (RO) framework. In the modeling formulation, penalties are exercised with the recourse against any infeasibility, and robustness measures are introduced to examine the variability of the second-stage costs that are above the expected levels. The IROM is suitable for risk-aversive planners under high-variability conditions. The IROM is applied to a case of energy systems and CO2 emission planning under uncertainty. The results obtained can generate desired decision alternatives that are able to not only enhance electricity-supply safety with a low system-failure risk level but also mitigate CO2 emissions. They can be used for generating decision alternatives and minimizing the system cost of energy system while meeting the CO2-emission permit requirement. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.