Electric Power System with Renewable Generation

Abstract

During the past decades, the advantages of renewable generation as clean and low-cost energy resources have inspired the dramatic integration of wind and solar energy into power systems. Unlike conventional units whose generation capacity is constant, the maximum output of wind turbines and PV panels is affected by the wind speed and solar irradiance intensity, which are beyond the control of system operators, and thus challenges the operation of power systems. This chapter will mainly focus on the operational-level issues in electric power systems with stochastic renewable generation in the time frame of one day, and elucidate models and approaches for three most fundamental problems in power system operation. The first one is the optimal power flow problem, which is solved every few minutes with real-time measurements on system loads and renewable generations, and determines steady-state distribution of bus voltages and line power flows under the most cost-effective energy production pattern. The second one is the economic dispatch, which is solved every one or a few hours and provides generation and reserve schedules for the upcoming periods. The third one is the unit commitment, which is used to clear a day-ahead power market and determine on-off status of generators in each time slot. Volatility and intermittency of renewable generation are considered in the latter two problems.