Modelling system balancing actions within high renewable energy scenarios

A key challenge for policymakers, regulators and markets aiming for a net-zero carbon world is delivering a flexible, low carbon system that most efficiently utilizes variable renewables whilst minimizing system costs and maximizing system security. This work presents a review of modelling methodologies for system balancing actions and associated costs for systems with high penetrations of renewable generation. Modelling methodologies representing balancing actions due to both system constraints and energy forecasting errors are compared for example summer and winter days using the PowerGAMA economic dispatch model and a further approach combining these methodologies is proposed. It is found that a combined approach representing balancing actions due to transmission constraints and forecast errors represents system balancing more fully than representing either of these actions in isolation. This work will inform the methodology of future studies with the purpose of investigating the potential system benefits associated with increasing penetrations of marine renewables.