TY - GEN A1 - Eichhorn, Andreas A1 - Heitsch, Holger A1 - Römisch, Werner T1 - Scenario tree approximation and risk aversion strategies for stochastic optimization of electricity production and trading N2 - Stochastic optimization techniques are highly relevant for applications in electricity production and trading since, in particular after the deregulations of many electricity markets, there is a high number of uncertainty factors (e.g., demand, spot prices) to be considered that can be described reasonably by statistical models. Here, we want to highlight two aspects of this approach: scenario tree approximation and risk aversion. The former is a procedure to replace a general statistical model (probability distribution), which makes the optimization problem intractable, suitably by a finite discrete distribution (scenarios). This is typically an indispensable first step towards a solution of a stochastic optimization model. On the other hand, this is a highly sensitive concern, in particular if dynamic decision structures are involved (multistage stochastic programming). Then, the approximate distribution must exhibit tree structure. Moreover, it is of interest to get by with a moderate number of scenarios to have the resulting problem tractable. In any case, it has to be relied on suitably stability results to ensure that the obtained results are indeed related to the original (infinite dimensional) problem. These stability results involve probability distances and, for the multistage case, a filtration distance that evaluates the information increase over time. We present respective approximation schemes relying on Monte Carlo sampling and scenario reduction and combining techniques. The second topic of this talk is risk aversion. Namely, we present the approach of polyhedral risk measures which are given as (the optimal values of) certain simple stochastic programs. Well-known risk measures such as CVaR and expected polyhedral utility belong to this class and, moreover, multiperiod risk measures for multistage stochastic programs are suggested. For stochastic programs incorporating polyhedral risk measures it has been shown that numerical tractability as well as stability results known for classical (non-risk-averse) stochastic programs remain valid. In particular, the same scenario approximation methods can be used. Finally, we present illustrative numerical results from an electricity portfolio optimization model for a municipal power utility. Y1 - 2007 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-matheon/frontdoor/index/index/docId/415 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0296-matheon-4153 ER -