Synergistic Optimization of Coal Power and Renewable Energy Based on Generalized Adequacy

As China accelerates its transition to a low-carbon society, its power system is facing growing challenges in terms of maintaining adequacy amid a rapidly evolving energy structure. The concept of adequacy, traditionally focused on power capacity and generation, has broadened to include dimensions like flexibility and inertia. Against this backdrop, optimizing the integration of coal power and renewable energy to meet the system’s needs for adequacy, flexibility, and frequency stability has become a critical research area. This paper introduces the concept of “Generalized Adequacy”, expanding the traditional understanding of adequacy, and proposes an optimization model for the coordinated development of coal power and renewable energy based on this concept. This study examines the effects of extreme weather, renewable energy penetration, wind–solar ratios, and generalized adequacy constraints using a case study from a central region of China. The findings reveal that extreme weather conditions drive an increase in photovoltaic installations, while higher renewable energy penetration leads to more wind power installations. Accounting for generalized adequacy constraints can moderate the retirement of coal-fired plants, reducing unnecessary inertia support in normal conditions and ensuring dynamic frequency stability during extreme weather events.