Integrated Power and Gas Network Optimization under Thermal Stress and Demand Surges

Abstract

Integrated power and natural gas networks exhibit deep interdependencies that become critically strained during extreme heat events, where surging electricity demand for air conditioning coincides with thermal deratings of generation assets, transmission lines, and gas infrastructure components. High ambient temperatures simultaneously elevate cooling loads often by 30-50% or more in affected regions while reducing overhead line ampacity through increased conductor resistance and sag, lowering thermal plant efficiencies due to cooling water or air limitations, and constraining gas pipeline flows or compressor performance. These coupled dynamics tighten reserve margins, exacerbate congestion, and heighten risks of cascading failures or forced load shedding, as observed in recent heat domes affecting PJM, ISO-NE, and other interconnections where gas power burns reached record levels amid tight supplies. Traditional siloed optimization fails to capture bidirectional couplings gas withdrawals by power plants and electricity consumption by gas compressors under temperature-dependent parameters.