Optimal wind power location on transmission systems - a probabilistic load flow approach

Renewable electrical energy grid connection is
hampered by transmission capacity limitations and public
opposition to new transmission development. This paper
presents a methodology to find the optimal positions on an
existing transmission system network to connect ‘firm’ wind
capacity to reach desired renewable energy penetration targets
in a secure, least-cost manner. The methodology accounts for
geographical statistical dependencies of individual bus load and
wind farm power outputs, as well as the temporal dependencies
of the conventional plant unit-commitment process on total
system load and wind patterns. This is accomplished using a
probabilistic load flow technique based on DC load-flow and
recorded load and wind time series. A discretised model of the
resultant multi-dimensional probability density function is used
to define line flow constraints in a linear programming
optimization model. The algorithm objectively allocates wind
capacity with respect to the wind resource and transmission
capacity in each area.