The optimal expansion planning: The benefits of the renewable option

This paper proposes an integrated expansion planning model for a generation/transmission system, emphasizing the use of renewable sources. The goal is to find the perfect mix between the different renewable energy sources, in order to ensure maximum demand within the minimum risk. The model takes into account the difference between climatological dynamics, allowing a more realistic representation of availabilities and complementarities. The final result is the optimum expansion plan which explores each source potentiality, creating a multiplicative effect able to ensure levels of quality and security impossible to achieve otherwise. A realistic case study analyzes the Brazilian system and highlights the benefits of the renewable expansion in terms of risks and costs.