Optimal Strategic Sizing of Energy Storage Facilities in Restructured Electricity Markets

In this seminar we will discuss a new model for strategic investment model for a merchant energy storage facility. The facility's actions impact market-clearing outcomes, and thus it is a price-maker facility. We consider the uncertainties associated with other generation units offering strategies and future load levels in the proposed model. Thestrategic investment decisions include the sizes of charging device,discharging device, and energy reservoir. The proposed model is astochastic bi-level optimization problem where planning and operation decisions of the energy storage facility are made in the upper level, and market clearing is modeled in the lower level under different operating conditions. To make the proposed model computationally tractable, an iterative solution technique based on Benders¹ decomposition is implemented. This provides a master problem and a set of subproblems for each scenario. Each subproblem is recast as a Mathematical Programs with Equilibrium Constraints (MPEC). Numerical results based on real-lifemarket data from Alberta's electricity market will be provided.