Generation and transmission adequacy evaluation of power systems with wind generation
Author(s)
Castro, Manuel
Type
Thesis
Abstract
In response to the challenge of proposed reductions to greenhouse gas emissions
outlined in international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, countries are
considering supplying a significant share of their future energy requirements from
renewable energy sources. Wind power, both on and offshore, is the principal
commercially available and scaleable renewable energy technology. It is expected to
remain the dominant technology in the medium-term future by delivering the majority
of the required growth in renewable energy.
The unique characteristics of wind power generation raise issues for its integration into
the existing power systems. This thesis explores three specific issues, namely, wind
generation’s limited capacity value, its remoteness from demand centres and the
appropriateness of the regulatory framework governing its integration.
The first issue was addressed by examining how the presence of flexible generation
sources like hydro power affects the capacity value of wind in an assessment of overall
system generation capacity. Wind capacity credit is interpreted from a planning
perspective, and also as a component of the economic value of wind. The results
illustrate that hydro power can compensate the variability of wind generation thereby
augmenting its capacity value.
The second issue required the development of a transmission planning methodology to
evaluate the sufficiency of transmission network capacity to accommodate wind
generation and to manage security of supply. The methodology was used to assess, over
the long term investment horizon, the requirement for additional transmission network
capacity driven by wind generation. The assessment found that wind generation drives
less transmission network capacity than conventional generation and that wind and
conventional generation should share the same transmission network capacity.
Finally, the thesis looked into the establishment of regulatory framework that could
recognise the realistic contribution of wind generation characteristics to transmission
security and capture this contribution within the network pricing structure. The current 4
transmission security standards were reviewed to evaluate whether they are capable of
recognising the different operation characteristics and output of wind generation.
Standards for assessing transmission adequacy were found to lead to under-investment
in capacity for importing areas and over-investment in exporting areas. Consequently, a
set of ‘contribution factors’ capturing the interaction between wind and system
characteristics were derived to augment the standards. At the same time, a modification
of the present TNUoS charging mechanism in order to discriminate between generation
technology types and to devise cost-reflective pricing regimes is proposed. This is
particularly important when transmission investment is driven by reliability, as in
exporting areas the cost reflective charges for wind were uniformly found to be lower
than the charges for conventional generators.
outlined in international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, countries are
considering supplying a significant share of their future energy requirements from
renewable energy sources. Wind power, both on and offshore, is the principal
commercially available and scaleable renewable energy technology. It is expected to
remain the dominant technology in the medium-term future by delivering the majority
of the required growth in renewable energy.
The unique characteristics of wind power generation raise issues for its integration into
the existing power systems. This thesis explores three specific issues, namely, wind
generation’s limited capacity value, its remoteness from demand centres and the
appropriateness of the regulatory framework governing its integration.
The first issue was addressed by examining how the presence of flexible generation
sources like hydro power affects the capacity value of wind in an assessment of overall
system generation capacity. Wind capacity credit is interpreted from a planning
perspective, and also as a component of the economic value of wind. The results
illustrate that hydro power can compensate the variability of wind generation thereby
augmenting its capacity value.
The second issue required the development of a transmission planning methodology to
evaluate the sufficiency of transmission network capacity to accommodate wind
generation and to manage security of supply. The methodology was used to assess, over
the long term investment horizon, the requirement for additional transmission network
capacity driven by wind generation. The assessment found that wind generation drives
less transmission network capacity than conventional generation and that wind and
conventional generation should share the same transmission network capacity.
Finally, the thesis looked into the establishment of regulatory framework that could
recognise the realistic contribution of wind generation characteristics to transmission
security and capture this contribution within the network pricing structure. The current 4
transmission security standards were reviewed to evaluate whether they are capable of
recognising the different operation characteristics and output of wind generation.
Standards for assessing transmission adequacy were found to lead to under-investment
in capacity for importing areas and over-investment in exporting areas. Consequently, a
set of ‘contribution factors’ capturing the interaction between wind and system
characteristics were derived to augment the standards. At the same time, a modification
of the present TNUoS charging mechanism in order to discriminate between generation
technology types and to devise cost-reflective pricing regimes is proposed. This is
particularly important when transmission investment is driven by reliability, as in
exporting areas the cost reflective charges for wind were uniformly found to be lower
than the charges for conventional generators.
Date Issued
2009
Date Awarded
2009-07
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Creator
Castro, Manuel
Publisher Department
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)