Evaluating Reliability of Power Systems with Renewable Power Generation

Abstract

With the aim to promote sustainable environment, many countries have been supporting the use of renewable generation by introducing strict policies and providing subsidies to producers. Power systems, consequently, have been experiencing high penetration of renewable power. There exists a challenge to maintain a desired level of reliability of power systems due to the intermittent nature of renewable power generation. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of power systems with significant penetration of renewable power generation from wind turbines by testing two reliability indices using MATLAB. A case-based analysis is applied to a modified version of the New England power system. Results show that renewable generators can improve the reliability of the power system but not to the extent to which the use of conventional generators can. The results imply that the number of generators available is directly proportional to the reliability of the system; in other words, with higher generation dispersion degree, the power grid would be more reliable.