Abstract
Cross-border power trading through grid interconnection has gained significant attention in South Asia to support energy deficit states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. Nonetheless, cross border grid interconnection requires technical standardization and grid code synchronization to ensure technically feasible, reliable, safe and economical power exchange among the SAARC states. Importantly, grid code harmonization necessitates the uniformity of technical data and codes among the member states. In this paper, we investigate the relevant factors such as regional barriers, trade potential, a gap in the grid codes, standardization of technical data, energy pricing, load profile, the load factor of different states, and regulatory framework of different states. All these factors are found to be helpful in formulating a set of recommendations for seamless power grid interconnections and power trading. We have developed a power pool model for the SAARC region with an objective to effectively realize the objectives of cross-border power trade in the region. The presented model takes account of transparency in market-clearing price, bidding of data, season-wise load profile, market volume, best case practices, institutional setup and rigorous case studies to ensure seamless grid interconnection and reliable power trading within the region.
Highlights
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region has a population of 1.7 billion, which is nearly one-quarter of the whole world’s population
Afghanistan still has to draft its grid code so it can do a transition of grid code onto a standardized format with relative ease
The cooperation between all member states is of great importance as the majority of member states need harmonization of grid codes through some amendments within their existing grid codes
Summary
SAARC region has a population of 1.7 billion, which is nearly one-quarter of the whole world’s population. It is found that electricity exporting and importing member states must share technical data on generation and transmission aspects associated with the cross-border trade of power. A few SMSs are engaged in power trading outside the SAARC region such as Afghanistan fulfills its electricity need by importing it from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. To ensure effective cross-border power trade among SMSs, it is believed that there must be a model that shall be followed to unify member states onto a single electricity market. A few best-case practices of regional power pool models are elaborated to reinforce the importance of cross border power trade in the SAARC region.
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