Optimal Coordinated Operation of Electricity and Natural Gas Distribution Networks with Power-to-Gas Facilities

The coupling between electricity and natural gas systems can be promoted with the emergence of power-to-gas (P2G) technology and natural gas generation units (NGGUs), which offers a potential alternative to accommodate the surplus renewable energy generation (REG). Given this background, an optimal coordinated schedule model for electricity and natural gas distribution networks with P2G facilities is first proposed. In this presented model, the objective is to minimize the overall operation costs of the integrated energy system, while the constraints include the operation ones in both the electricity distribution network and natural gas distribution network. The commercial solver IPOPT is then utilized in the AMPL environment to solve this developed optimization model. Finally, an integrated energy system consisting of a modified 54-bus electricity distribution network and a 19-bus natural gas distribution network is employed to demonstrate the feasibility of the presented model.