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Publications

Publications by Ricardo Jorge Bessa

2024

Stochastic optimization framework for hybridization of existing offshore wind farms with wave energy and floating photovoltaic systems

Authors
Kazemi-Robati, E; Silva, B; Bessa, RJ;

Publication
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

Abstract
Due to the complementarity of renewable energy sources, there has been a focus on technology hybridization in recent years. In the area of hybrid offshore power plants, the current research projects mostly focus on the combinational implementation of wind, solar, and wave energy technologies. Accordingly, considering the already existing offshore wind farms, there is the potential for the implementation of hybrid power plants by adding wave energy converters and floating photovoltaics. In this work, a stochastic sizing model is developed for the hybridization of existing offshore wind farms using wave energy converters and floating photovoltaics considering the export cable capacity limitation. The problem is modeled from an investor perspective to maximize the economic profits of the hybridization, while the costs and revenues regarding the existing units and the export cable are excluded. Furthermore, to tackle the uncertainties of renewable energy generation, as well as the energy price, a scenario generation method based on copula theory is proposed to consider the dependency structure between the different random variables. Altogether, the hybridization study is modeled in a mixed integer linear programming optimization framework considering the net present value of the project as the objective function. The results showed that hybrid-sources-based energy generation provided the highest economic profit in the studied cases in the different geographical locations. Furthermore, the technical specifications of the farms have also been considerably improved providing more stable energy generation, guaranteeing a minimum level of power in a high share of the time, and with a better utilization of the capacity of the cable while the curtailment of energy is maintained within the acceptable range.

2024

A review on the decarbonization of high-performance computing centers

Authors
Silva, CA; Vilaça, R; Pereira, A; Bessa, RJ;

Publication
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS

Abstract
High-performance computing relies on performance-oriented infrastructures with access to powerful computing resources to complete tasks that contribute to solve complex problems in society. The intensive use of resources and the increase in service demand due to emerging fields of science, combined with the exascale paradigm, climate change concerns, and rising energy costs, ultimately means that the decarbonization of these centers is key to improve their environmental and financial performance. Therefore, a review on the main opportunities and challenges for the decarbonization of high-performance computing centers is essential to help decision-makers, operators and users contribute to a more sustainable computing ecosystem. It was found that state-of-the-art supercomputers are growing in computing power, but are combining different measures to meet sustainability concerns, namely going beyond energy efficiency measures and evolving simultaneously in terms of energy and information technology infrastructure. It was also shown that policy and multiple entities are now targeting specifically HPC, and that identifying synergies with the energy sector can reveal new revenue streams, but also enable a smoother integration of these centers in energy systems. Computing-intensive users can continue to pursue their scientific research, but participating more actively in the decarbonization process, in cooperation with computing service providers. Overall, many opportunities, but also challenges, were identified, to decrease carbon emissions in a sector mostly concerned with improving hardware performance.

2023

Operating AI systems in the electricity sector under European's AI Act - Insights on compliance costs, profitability frontiers and extraterritorial effects

Authors
Heymann, F; Parginos, K; Bessa, RJ; Galus, M;

Publication
ENERGY REPORTS

Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) brings great potential but also risks to the electricity industry. Following the EU's current regulatory proposal, the EU Regulation for Artificial Intelligence (AI Act), there will be direct, potentially adverse effects on companies of the electricity industry in Europe and beyond, as well as those active in the development of AI systems. In this paper, we develop a replicable framework for estimating compliance costs for different electricity market agents that will need to comply with the numerous requirements the AI Act imposes. The electricity systems of Austria, Greece and Switzerland are used as case-studies. We estimate annual, aggregated costs for electricity market agents ranging from less than one million to almost 200 million Euros per country, depending on compliance costs scenarios. Results suggest that a profit growth of 10% through AI utilization is needed to offset the highest added compliance cost of the AI Act on electricity market agents. Eventually, we further show how to assess the regional differences of these costs added to system operation, providing spatially disaggregated compliance costs estimates that consider the structural differences of the electricity industry within 26 Swiss cantons.

2023

ENEIDA DEEPGRID®: BRINGING THE OPERATIONAL AWARENESS TO THE LV GRID

Authors
Couto, R; Faria, J; Oliveira, J; Sampaio, G; Bessa, R; Rodrigues, F; Santos, R;

Publication
IET Conference Proceedings

Abstract
This paper presents a novel solution integrated into the Eneida DeepGrid® platform for real-time voltage and active power estimation in low voltage grids. The tool utilizes smart grid infrastructure data, including historical data, real-time measurements from a subset of meters, and exogenous information such as weather forecasts and dynamic price signals. Unlike traditional methods, the solution does not require electrical or topological characterization and is not affected by observability issues. The performance of the tool was evaluated through a case study using 10 real networks located in Portugal, with results showing high estimation accuracy, even under scenarios of low smart meter coverage. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2023.

2020

Fostering the relation and the connectivity between smart homes and grids – InterConnect project

Authors
Terras, JM; Simão, T; Rua, D; Coelho, F; Gouveia, C; Bessa, R; Baumeister, J; Prümm, RI; Genest, O; Siarheyeva, A; Laarakkers, J; Rivero, E; Bosco, E; Nemcek, P; Glennung, K;

Publication
IET Conference Publications

Abstract
This study offers an overview of the H2020 InterConnect project, which targets the relation between smart homes and distribution grids. The project vision is to produce a digital marketplace, using an interoperable marketplace toolbox and Smart appliances REference Ontology (SAREF) compliant Internet of Things (IoT) reference architecture as the main backbone, through which all SAREF-ized services, compliant devices, platform enablers and applications can be downloaded onto IoT and smart grid digital platforms. Energy users in buildings, either residential or non-residential, manufacturers, distribution grid operators and the energy retailers will work together towards the demonstration of the smart energy management solutions in seven connected large-scale test-sites in Portugal, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and France. This study depicts how InterConnect project will enhance the relation and the interconnectivity between smart buildings and grids safeguarding the definition of the role of each stakeholder in energy and non-energy services.

2024

Uncertainty-Aware Procurement of Flexibilities for Electrical Grid Operational Planning

Authors
Bessa, RJ; Moaidi, F; Viana, J; Andrade, JR;

Publication
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Abstract
In the power system decarbonization roadmap, novel grid management tools and market mechanisms are fundamental to solving technical problems concerning renewable energy forecast uncertainty. This work proposes a predictive algorithm for procurement of grid flexibility by the system operator (SO), which combines the SO flexible assets with active and reactive power short-term flexibility markets. The goal is to reduce the cognitive load of the human operator when analyzing multiple flexibility options and trajectories for the forecasted load/RES and create a human-in-the-loop approach for balancing risk, stakes, and cost. This work also formulates the decision problem into several steps where the operator must decide to book flexibility now or wait for the next forecast update (time-to-decide method), considering that flexibility (availability) price may increase with a lower notification time. Numerical results obtained for a public MV grid (Oberrhein) show that the time-to-decide method improves up to 22% a performance indicator related to a cost-loss matrix, compared to the option of booking the flexibility now at a lower price and without waiting for a forecast update.

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