An Integrated and Iterative Multiscale Modeling Framework for Robust Capacity Expansion Planning

Electricity system capacity expansion models are often unable to simulate key processes occurring at high temporal and spatial resolutions due to their longer modeling time horizons. Frameworks that integrate capacity expansion models with finer scale models and data can more adequately characterize grid operations and infrastructure siting under dynamic climate conditions. Understanding recent research in this space is key to advancing the state of the field and developing robust energy plans. Recent research has addressed various temporal, spatial, and process resolution simplifications in capacity expansion modeling through integration with production cost and power plant siting models. These workflows capture “on-the-ground” processes and have been used to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of long-range energy plans. This paper provides a review of recent efforts that link long-range capacity expansion planning models with higher temporal, spatial, and process-resolution tools. It also discusses trends in the modeling space and offers suggestions for more detailed and interdependent integration methods.