Clean Heating Scheduling Optimization with Wind Power in Northern China

In northern China, wind curtailment and environmental pollution from the widespread use of traditional heating methods cause huge economic losses. This paper proposes an emerging heating technology using wind power to alleviate these problems. First, an overall scheduling framework for wind-powered heating systems is introduced. The optimal operation of wind power generation based on the periodic heating demands of residents in rural areas is then presented based on a mathematical problem formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program. Moreover, an innovative cross-period deployment is developed considering the intermittent and variable nature of wind generation. Through the application of a genetic algorithm, the thermal requirements of residents can be continuously and sufficiently supplied by clean energy under the premise of satisfying system operation constraints. Finally, the coordinated optimization of this research applied to wind-powered heating systems in western Inner Mongolia demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed dispatching approaches, thereafter being repeatedly verified by extensive case analyses. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.