A two-stage approach to represent the daily LNG carriers unloading in natural gas optimization models

Abstract

Natural gas is expected to play a key role in the energy system of the next decade since it is one of the mainstays of global energy and can still replace more polluting fuels. At the same time, many countries’ dependence on natural gas imports, has increased significantly in recent years, making the natural gas supply vulnerable to disruptions and price fluctuations. In this context, natural gas system optimization models are more fundamental than ever for both policymakers and companies. This paper proposes a new two-stage modeling approach to represent the daily LNG carrier unloading in gas systems optimization models. In particular, we apply the methodology to a model based on GASCOOP.