Abstract
Power outages have created significant challenges for power system networks, particularly in developing countries where the electricity demand continues to rise without a corresponding increase in power generation or the expansion of transmission and distribution networks. In Kenya, while there is a well-established transmission line network, the distribution infrastructure remains inadequate for supplying electricity to end consumers. This paper examines the economic load dispatch (ELD) of power system networks utilizing Service Potential Transformer (SPT) substations to provide electricity to villages located near high voltage (HV) lines. The ELD analysis was conducted to identify the optimal economic power output from the Kipevu, Rabai, and Thika thermal power plants, addressing the demand for both conventional and non-conventional substations. A gradient method was employed to calculate the ELD for these three generating units, and the results were validated using the PowerWorld simulator. Findings indicated that the three generators supplied 20 MW, 37.5 MW, and 12.5 MW, respectively. The results obtained from the gradient method are consistent with those obtained from PowerWorld software. Additionally, this study projected an annual fuel cost savings of USD 17,695.20 when ELD was implemented, compared to a scenario of equal load distribution among generating units. Over a ten-year period, these savings would be sufficient to establish a conventional distribution substation to meet the power demands of villages located further away from high voltage lines.
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