Exploring Regional Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Exposure Reduction Pathways Using an Optimal Power Flow Model: The Case of the Illinois Power Grid

This work develops an exposure-based optimal power flowmodel (OPF)that accounts for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposurefrom electricity generation unit (EGU) emissions. Advancing health-baseddispatch models to an OPF with transmission constraints and reactivepower flow is an essential development given its utility for short-and long-term planning by system operators. The model enables theassessment of the exposure mitigation potential and the feasibilityof intervention strategies while still prioritizing system costs andnetwork stability. A representation of the Illinois power grid isdeveloped to demonstrate how the model can inform decision making.Three scenarios minimizing dispatch costs and/or exposure damagesare simulated. Other interventions assessed include adopting best-availableEGU emission control technologies, having higher renewable generation,and relocating high-polluting EGUs. Neglecting transmission constraintsfails to account for 4% of exposure damages ($60 M/y) and dispatchcosts ($240 M/y). Accounting for exposure in the OPF reduces damagesby 70%, a reduction on the order of that achieved by high renewableintegration. About 80% of all exposure is attributed to EGUs fulfillingonly 25% of electricity demand. Siting these EGUs in low-exposurezones avoids 43% of all exposure. Operation and cost advantages inherentto each strategy beyond exposure reduction suggest their collectiveadoption for maximum benefits. Humanexposure to fine particulate matter from electricitygeneration emissions remains a global health problem. This study developsan electricity dispatch model to explore different ways system operatorscan mitigate exposure while still balancing operational costs andnetwork stability.