Abstract
This paper evaluates optimal power generation mix considering massive deployment of variable renewable energy and regional power interchange. Japan has initiated feed-in-tariff (FIT) and expected significant introduction of PV and wind power for energy self-sufficiency and climate change. Wind power resource in Japan, however, concentrates mainly on Hokkaido and Tohoku region which is remote from electricity-consuming area such as Tokyo, and facilitating the considerable deployment of wind power requires the establishment of inter-regional power transmission line. On these backgrounds, we develop optimal power generation mix model including regional electricity exchange as large-scale linear programming model with 10 million variables and 30 million constraints. Calculated results show that regional grid expansion encourages wind power installation in Hokkaido and Tohoku region for supplying it to Tokyo area where PV power and stationary battery are alternatively replaced. The grid expansion, as well, promotes the shift of PV installation to Kyushu and Shikoku region which have longer sunshine duration, and interchangeably mitigates PV deployment in other regions through the transport of PV power from those two regions.
