An approach based on robust optimization and decision rules for analyzing real options in engineering systems design

Aakil M. Caunhye, Michel Alexandre Cardin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

In this article, a novel approach to analyze flexibility and real options in engineering systems design is proposed based on robust optimization and decision rules. A semi-infinite robust counterpart is formulated for a worst-case non-flexible Generation Expansion Planning (GEP) problem taken as a demonstration application. An exact solution methodology is proven by converting the model into an explicit mixed-integer programming model. Strategic capacity expansion flexibility—also referred to as real options—is analyzed in the GEP problem formulation and a multi-stage finite adaptability decision rule is developed to solve the resulting model. Finite adaptability relies on uncertainty set partitions, and in order to avoid arbitrary choices of partitions, a novel heuristic partitioning methodology is developed based on upper-bound paths to guide the partitioning of uncertainty sets. The modeling approach and heuristic partitioning methodology are applied to analyze a realistic GEP problem using data from the Midwestern United States. The case study provides insights on the convergence rates of the proposed heuristic partitioning methodology, decision rule performances, and the value of flexibility compared with non-flexible solutions, showing that explicit considerations of flexibility through real options can yield significant cost savings and improved system performance in the face of uncertainty.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)753-767
Number of pages15
JournalIISE Transactions
Volume49
Issue number8
Early online date2 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Aug 2017

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • decision rules
  • finite adaptability
  • flexibility
  • generation expansion planning
  • real options
  • robust optimization

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