Improving rural electricity system planning: An agent-based model for stakeholder engagement and decision making
Authored by Jose F Alfaro, Shelie Miller, Jeremiah X Johnson, Rick R Riolo
Date Published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.020
Sponsors:
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
NetLogo
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Energy planners in regions with low rates of electrification face
complex and high-risk challenges in selecting appropriate generating
technologies and grid centralization. To better inform such processes,
we present an Agent-Based Model (ABM) that facilitates engagement with
stakeholders. This approach evaluates long-term plans using the cost of
delivered electricity, resource mix, jobs and economic stimulus created
within communities, and decentralized generation mix of the system, with
results provided in a spatially-resolved format. This approach
complements existing electricity planning methods (e.g., Integrated
Resource Planning) by offering novel evaluation criteria based on
typical stakeholder preferences.
We demonstrate the utility of this approach with a case study based on a
``blank-slate{''} scenario, which begins without generation or
transmission infrastructure, for the long-term rural renewable energy
plans of Liberia, West Africa. We consider five electrification
strategies: prioritizing larger populations, deploying large resources,
creating jobs, providing economic stimulus, and step-wise cost
minimization. Through the case study we demonstrate how this approach
can be used to engage stakeholders, supplement more established energy
planning tools, and illustrate the effects of stakeholder decisions and
preferences on the performance of the system.
Tags
Agent-based modeling
Complexity
industrial ecology
Developing Countries
Africa
Power
Integration
Developing-countries
Policy planning
Rural
electrification