Abstract
The Portuguese power system has experienced an increasing integration of renewable energy sources during the last yearsand is still making considerable efforts to increase its share of renewable generation. Wind power is the renewable source of energy that has experienced the highest increase. According to the national power system operator predictions, by the year 2011, wind power will account for 27.5% of the Portuguese installed capacity and for 37.1% of the generated energy. Such integration of wind power induces particular challenges in balancing the power demand and generation, emerging as the cause of some power system instability. That potential to the power unbalances occurrence tends to increase during the years of higher rainfall, especially in systems like the Portuguese, with considerable hydro generation. The main objective of the present paper is to understand the sensitivity of the Portuguese power system capacity to integrate the renewable generation under different hydrological regimes. Along the paper, the authors forecast the potential of occurring power unbalances between demand and generation, analyse the contribution of the installed pumping-hydro power-plants to mitigate those power unbalances and quantify the needs of renewable generation curtailment.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call