Novel Hybrid Stochastic-Robust Optimal Trading Strategy for a Demand Response Aggregator in the Wholesale Electricity Market

The close interaction between the electricity market and the end-users can assist the demand response (DR) aggregator in handling and managing various uncertain parameters simultaneously to reduce their effect on the aggregator’s operation. As the DR aggregator’s main responsibility is to aggregate the obtained DR from individual consumers and trade it into the wholesale market. Another responsibility of the aggregator is proposing the DR programs (DRPs) to the end-users. This article proposes a model to handle these uncertainties through the development of a novel hybrid stochastic-robust optimization approach that incorporates the uncertainties around wholesale market prices and the participation rate of consumers. The behavior of the consumers engaging in DRPs is addressed through stochastic programming. Additionally, the volatility of the electricity market prices is modeled through a robust optimization method. Two DRPs are considered in this model to include both time-based and incentive-based DRPs, i.e., time-of-use and incentive-based DR program to study three sectors of consumers, namely industrial, commercial, and residential consumers. An energy storage system is also assumed to be operated by the aggregator to maximize its profit. The proposed mixed-integer linear hybrid stochastic-robust model improves the evaluation of DR aggregator’s scheduling for the probable worst-case scenario. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the model is thoroughly simulated in a real case study.