Minimising transmission reactive support required by high penetration of distributed wind power generation

Wind power generation is the fastest growing renewable technology worldwide with large on- and off-shore wind farms being connected to the transmission networks. A significant share of it is, however, still being deployed at distribution levels. While distributed wind generation presents traditionally passive distribution networks with well-established technical challenges, reactive support needed by high penetrations of such new generation capacity might also have an impact on the weak areas of the transmission grid. In this work, a multi-period AC optimal power flow-based technique is proposed to find power factor and substation settings that minimise the transmission reactive support required by variable distributed generation while also considering N-1 contingencies. A section of Irish distribution network is analysed. Results show the significant benefits that a passive approach such as the use of optimal power factor and substation settings can achieve.