Energy and Environmental Systems Planning with Recourse: Inexact Stochastic Programming Model Containing Fuzzy Boundary Intervals in Objectives and Constraints

Abstract

In this study, a feasibility-analysis-based inexact fuzzy multistage model (FA-IFMSM) was developed for supporting the planning of energy and environmental systems under multiform uncertainties. In FA-IFMSM, methods of feasibility-analysis-based fuzzy linear programming (FA-FLP) and inexact multistage stochastic programming (IMSP) with recourse were integrated into a general mixed-integer linear programming framework, such that the developed model could tackle uncertainties described in terms of probability distributions, interval values, fuzzy sets, and their hybrid and mixture. Moreover, it could reflect dynamic features of facility-capacity expansions and energy supplies over a multistage context. It could also quantify constraint violation degrees through the adoption of various acceptable degree levels. Then the proposed model was applied to a regional energy and environmental system to illustrate its applicability, where conventional and renewable energy resources and their economic and environmental implications were considered. The results indicated that reasonable solutions were generated. They were helpful for supporting (1) adjustment or justification of allocation patterns of regional energy resources and services; (2) formulation of local policies regarding energy consumption, economic development, and environmental protection; and (3) in-depth analysis of trade-offs among system cost and satisfaction degree, and environmental requirements under multiple uncertainties.