Computation-Power Coupled Modeling for IDCs and Collaborative Optimization in ADNs

The batch and online workload of Internet data centers (IDCs) offer temporal and spatial scheduling flexibility. Given that power generation costs vary over time and location, harnessing the flexibility of IDCs' energy consumption through workload regulation can optimize the power flow within the system. This paper focuses on multi-geographically distributed IDCs managed by an Internet service company (ISC), which are aggregated as a controllable load. The load flexibility resulting from spatial load regulation of online workload is taken into account. A two-step workload scheduling mechanism is adopted, and a computation-power coupling model of ISC is established to facilitate collaborative optimization in active distribution networks (ADNs). To address the model-solving problem based on the assumption of scheduling homogeneity, a model reconstruction method is proposed. An efficient iterative algorithm is designed to solve the reconstructed model. Furthermore, the Nash bargaining solution is employed to coordinate the different optimization objectives of ISC and power system operators, thereby avoiding subjective arbitrariness. Experimental cases based on a 33-node distribution system are designed to verify the effectiveness of the model and algorithm in optimizing ISC's energy consumption and power flow within the system.