Wide Area Hierarchical Voltage Control to Improve Security Margin for Systems With High Wind Penetration

Abstract

Due to growing environmental concerns, wind power has taken a larger share of the generation market. While the increase in wind generation provides diversification of the supply, it also undermines system reliability by introducing uncertainty in power supply and decreasing the maneuverability of the grid in terms of VAR absorbance and provision. To restore the reliability of high wind penetrated systems, this paper proposes hierarchical voltage control (HVC). The proposed pattern generalization methodology is based on principle component analysis and a three-layer feedback architecture utilizing online state estimation. The proposed control includes both steady-state and dynamic constraints. Governed by an optimization trained with cases representing operating snapshots and solved via an active-set algorithm adopting stepwise linearization, the proposed HVC provides efficiency and adaptability. As a result, the proposed control provides adequate system support under a wide range of contingencies and operating conditions to enhance grid reliability. Its capability to regulate yearly round operations in real time is validated using a reduced Western Electricity Coordinating Council power system model.