The Residual Load Duration Curve (rLDC) to model an energy system

Abstract

This paper develops a framework to represent the action of different generation and balancing technologies based on the statistics of the demand and generation using the concept of the Load Duration Curve (LDC). The aim is to capture the statistics in terms of energy and power provision from a generation type given by its inherent resource, technical and economic constraints. This paper provides a brief overview of the fundamental types of generation and balancing, and how their action modifies the load duration curve to eventually arrive at a balanced system. Based on empirical data from the UK National Grid, the statistical properties of renewable energy sources and of the energy and power capacities of energy storage technologies, different basic functional relationships between the residual Load Duration Curves (rLDC) will be derived for these technologies.