An official website of the United States government
Increasing use of natural gas for electricity production places added strains on pipeline systems that are used for transporting fuel. Pipeline constraints require power system operators to account for natural gas-supply restrictions in their operational processes. This paper proposes separate optimization models for clearing day-ahead wholesale markets for scheduling power and natural gas systems. We then develop a market-based mechanism that allows for efficient co-ordination of the two systems. Importantly, the co-ordination mechanism only requires the exchange of fuel-price, -supply, and -demand information between the two markets. This can be contrasted with other co-ordination mechanisms that require operations of the two systems by a single entity. Thus, we provide a computationally tractable co-ordination mechanism that does not require the exchange of proprietary information between natural gas and electricity system operators. We demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of the technique using a numerical example.
more »
« less
This content will become publicly available on December 1, 2026
Operational Modeling of the Nexus Between Water-Distribution and Electricity Systems
Purpose of Review We survey operational models of water-distribution systems. Although such modeling is important in its own right, our focus is motivated by the growing desire to examine and manage the nexus between water-distribution and electricity systems. As such, our survey discusses computational challenges in modeling water-distribution systems, co-ordination dynamics between water-distribution and electricity systems, and gaps in the literature. Recent Findings Modeling water-distribution systems is made difficult by their highly non-linear and non-convex physical properties. Co-ordinating water-distribution and electricity systems, especially with the growing supply and demand uncertainties of the latter, requires fast optimization techniques for real-time system management. Although many works suggest means of co-ordinating the two systems, practical applications are limited, due to the systems having separate and autonomous management and ownership. Nonetheless, recent works are navigating this challenge, by seeking methods to foster improved co-ordination of the two systems while respecting their autonomy. Additionally, with the backdrop of increased security threats, there is a growing need to bolster infrastructure protection, which is complicated by the intertwined nature of the two systems. Summary By providing a steady supply of potable water to satisfy residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial demands, water-distribution systems are pivotal components of modern society and infrastructure. The extant literature presents many models and optimization strategies that are tailored for operating water-distribution systems. Yet, there remain unexplored problems, particularly related to simplifying model computation, capturing the flexibility of water-distribution systems, and capturing interdependencies between water-distribution and other systems and infrastructures. Future research that addresses these gaps will allow greater operational efficiency and resilience.
more »
« less
- PAR ID:
- 10583636
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Nature Switzerland AG
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Current Sustainable/Renewable Energy Reports
- Volume:
- 12
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2196-3010
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
null (Ed.)Predicting the energy needs of future water systems is important for coordinating long-term energy and water management plans, as both systems are interrelated. We use the case study of the Los Angeles City’s Department of Water and Power (LADWP), located in a densely populated, environmentally progressive, and water-poor region, to highlight the trade-offs and tensions that can occur in balancing priorities related to reliable water supply, energy demand for water and greenhouse gas emissions. The city is on its path to achieving higher fractions of local water supplies through the expansion of conservation, water recycling and stormwater capture to replace supply from imported water. We analyze scenarios to simulate a set of future local water supply adoption pathways under average and dry weather conditions, across business as usual and decarbonized grid scenarios. Our results demonstrate that an aggressive local water supply expansion could impact the geospatial distribution of electricity demand for water services, which could place a greater burden on LADWP’s electricity system over the next two decades, although the total energy consumed for the utility’s water supply might not be significantly changed. A decomposition analysis of the major factors driving electricity demand suggests that in most scenarios, a structural change in LADWP’s portfolio of water supply sources affects the electricity demanded for water more than increases in population or water conservation.more » « less
-
The ability to (re)establish basic community infrastructure and governmental functions, such as medical and communication systems, after the occurrence of a natural disaster rests on a continuous supply of electricity. Traditional energy-generation systems consisting of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution feeders are becoming more vulnerable, given the increasing magnitude and frequency of climate-related natural disasters. We investigate the role that fuel cells, along with other distributed energy resources, play in post-disaster recovery efforts. We present a mixed-integer, non-linear optimization model that takes load and power-technology data as inputs and determines a cost-minimizing design and dispatch strategy while considering operational constraints. The model fails to achieve gaps of less than 15%, on average, after two hours for realistic instances encompassing five technologies and a year-long time horizon at hourly fidelity. Therefore, we devise a multi-phase methodology to expedite solutions, resulting in run times to obtain the best solution in fewer than two minutes; after two hours, we provide proof of near-optimality, i.e., gaps averaging 5%. Solutions obtained from this methodology yield, on average, an 8% decrease in objective function value and utilize fuel cells three times more often than solutions obtained with a straight-forward implementation employing a commercial solver.more » « less
-
Abstract Extreme weather-related events are showing how infrastructure disruptions in hinterlands can affect cities. This paper explores the risks to city infrastructure services including transportation, electricity, communication, fuel supply, water distribution, stormwater drainage, and food supply from hinterland hazards of fire, precipitation, post-fire debris flow, smoke, and flooding. There is a large and growing body of research that describes the vulnerabilities of infrastructures to climate hazards, yet this work has not systematically acknowledged the relationships and cross-governance challenges of protecting cities from remote disruptions. An evidence base is developed through a structured literature review that identifies city infrastructure vulnerabilities to hinterland hazards. Findings highlight diverse pathways from the initial hazard to the final impact on an infrastructure, demonstrating that impacts to hinterland infrastructure assets from hazards can cascade to city infrastructure. Beyond the value of describing the impact of hinterland hazards on urban infrastructure, the identified pathways can assist in informing cross-governance mitigation strategies. It may be the case that to protect cities, local governments invest in mitigating hazards in their hinterlands and supply chains.more » « less
-
The provision of water services is critical to ensure the vitality of Alaskan communities. Water systems in Alaska operate differently than those in the contiguous US given the Arctic climate, remote geography, and unique workforce limitations. For example, some communities rely on water delivered using trucks, and many households use traditional sources (e.g., rainwater, ice melt). This unique context reconfigures how water systems relate to other critical infrastructure services (CISs), such as transportation and electricity. For instance, the high energy costs needed to heat water systems in Alaska can exacerbate water insecurity. In another example, some communities with delivered water services can be limited by transportation challenges such as limited connectivity, roadway damage, and reduced visibility during winter weather. While we recognize that water-related challenges in Alaska are often linked to other CISs, it remains unclear how these interdependencies shape services—for instance, which connections are sources of vulnerability? Through a systematic literature review, we seek to understand the underlying network of interdependencies between water systems and other CISs in Alaska. We employ a qualitative content analysis of scholarly literature to identify relevant CISs and how they influence the provision of water services. By enhancing our knowledge about infrastructure interdependencies in Alaska, we can improve management by taking into account other relevant systems. Further, our work identifies key research gaps and opportunities, guiding future efforts to address the complex infrastructure challenges in Alaska.more » « less
