Coordinated operation of reconfigurable networks with dynamic line rating for optimal utilization of renewable generation

Abstract

The large-scale penetration of renewable generation, the ever-increasing load, and aging of the transmission infrastructure all pose excessive stress on secure power system operation due to increasing congestion levels of the network. This arises the need for system operators to exploit the inherent flexibility in the system by using new cost-effective transmission topologies to better utilize the existing transmission assets. Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and Optimal Transmission Switching (OTS) technologies both provide flexible ways to boost power system performance and maximize the use of existing infrastructure. In this paper, OTS and DLR are co-optimized in a stochastic unit commitment (SUC) formulation to characterize its influence on the scheduling of power system operation in the presence of renewable energy resources. Based on the predicted meteorological parameters and loading, the optimization problem i.e. Flexible Transmission Dynamic Line Rating (FTDLR) determines when and which line should be upgraded to adopt DLR and which line should be removed from the network. The inherent flexibility in transmission system is utilized by anticipating the capacity of transmission lines using DLR in co-ordination with reconfiguring network topology to relieve system congestions and reduce system operating cost. The flexibility obtained from the current transmission system can help in postponing the need for building new transmission corridors and deepen the integration of renewable generation. Numerical results establish that the enforcement of DLR and the practice of OTS are complementary, which can help minimize the system operating cost, wind curtailment, and network congestion.