Advanced Energy Systems Planning and Scheduling in Energy Markets: The Role of Flexibility for the Energy Transition

Dear Colleagues,

The global energy market is transitioning away from fossil fuel-based energy production and consumption systems, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, to renewable energy sources, including solar and wind. Decarbonization of the energy system necessitates immediate global action, and although a global energy transition is underway, additional interventions are required to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and reduce climate change's impacts.

With the objective of integrating high percentages of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar PV, additional flexibility is required for the energy system. In that context, flexible generation from dispatchable generating units, demand response, market coupling, enhanced transmission and distribution systems, and additional storage capacities, including the electrification of the transport sector, are of great significance for enhancing system flexibility. Sector coupling (Power-to-X) can also boost flexibility by converting renewable electrical energy to heat, gas, hydrogen, and/or liquid fuels.  As a result, there will be more flexibility in usage, fuel replacement, storage, as well as improved transmission and flexible energy conversion options. Consequently, sector coupling through the further utilization of renewable energy sources can contribute to long-term decarbonization.

Optimization-based modeling tools based on sectoral approaches, dispatch models, including economic dispatch and detailed unit commitment models, combined or not with power systems planning models, can serve as a solid basis for investigating the short-term dynamics, the mid-term uncertainties, and the long-term challenges regarding the decarbonization of the energy system. Within the context of these challenges, the main scope of this Special Issue is to develop new optimization approaches and methodological frameworks for advanced energy systems planning and scheduling in energy markets, putting particular emphasis on the flexibility service providers. State-of-the-art works, in combination with innovative case studies, are invited. Multidisciplinary research and cutting-edge approaches are welcomed to address the challenges posed by energy systems and markets at various time scales, from the very short to the very long term.

Dr. Nikolaos E. Koltsaklis
Guest Editor

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