Generation and transmission network expansion planning in power systems with a high share of renewable energies considering multiple weather years

With an increasing integration of fluctuating renewable generation into power grids, the necessity to consider grid restrictions for the planning and secure operation of the power system is gaining in importance. In this context, the challenge to ensure the security of supply in the generation expansion planning (GEP) and transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) increases. For an adequate decision support, models are needed which are able to provide a secure TNEP and GEP considering the impact of varying weather conditions on the renewable generation in combination with central and decentral flexibilities. Based on the coupling of multiple models we present an approach for a secure TNEP and GEP considering the non-availability of generators due to stochastic outages or varying resource availability in multiple weather years. Neglecting load flow restrictions in the first step we run a highly resolved allocation planning of renewables, a Monte-Carlo based two-step optimization of national capacity requirements and an hourly resolved multi period GEP on the European scale. In the next step grid restrictions based on the DC-approach for Germany and its neighbouring countries are included and the TNEP and GEP (with fixed capacities) is conducted. In order to handle the complexity of the problems, different decomposition techniques, including the Alternating Direction of Multipliers Method (ADMM) and Benders Decomposition, are applied.