Parallel Stochastic Unit Commitment with Optimal FACTS Operation Using Progressive Hedging

Abstract

The increasing penetration of renewable generation poses challenges to grid operation, including the need for increased available transfer capability (ATC). The power flow control capability of flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices can enhance the transfer capability over the existing network, thus improving the utilization of renewable energy. To harness such benefits, it is essential to integrate FACTS operation into stochastic unit commitment (SUC), in which renewable generation uncertainties are explicitly modeled. Furthermore, to ensure the computational tractability of SUC with FACTS incorporated, it is vital to study the impacts of FACTS deployment on computational burden of the model. This paper proposes a SUC model with the consideration of optimal FACTS operation. The proposed model is solved using the progressive hedging (PH) algorithm. PH is also used to solve the original SUC model for comparison. Simulation results reveal that despite the increased computational complexity due to FACTS operation, PH is a valuable approach in ensuring that the proposed model can be solved efficiently.