Optimal scheduling of combined heat and power units with heat storage for the improvement of wind power integration

Wind power curtailment in winter of Northern China is mainly caused by the limited flexibility of combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Improving the profitability of CHP by heat storage is a promising alternative to increase the integration of wind power. Dispatching method of CHP and heat storage is proposed in this paper based on two linear models. The first model is used for the pre-judging of time intervals of heat charging and discharging while the second is for the determination of power output of the CHP units and heat storage. Wind power curtailment and operation cost are both considered in the objective function of the second model. Operation results with different amounts of wind power generation and heat storage capacity are analyzed. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the benefits of heat storage on improving the integration of wind power economically with proposed methods.