Optimal generation expansion planning strategy for the utility with IPPs participation and considering Green House gas mitigation

Thermal power plants dominate electric power generation in Taiwan, which are also the major contributor to green house gases (GHG). CO₂ is the most important greenhouse gas that cause global warming and sea-level rising. This paper pierces the relationship between GHG reduction and power generation expansion planning (GEP) problem for the utility. Refined immune algorithm (RIA) is presented to determine the generation expansion planning strategy of the utility with independent power providers (IPPs). The utility has to take both the IPPs´ participation and environment impact into account when a new generation unit is expanded. This problem also takes into account the GHG reduction and reliability issues, while satisfying all electrical constraints simultaneously from view of supply side. RIA was conducted by an improved crossover and mutation mechanism with a competition and auto-adjust scheme to avoid prematurity. Testing results shows that RIA can offer an efficient way in determining the generation expansion planning.