Application of reliability concepts to the Nepal Power System

Abstract

In many of the less industrialized countries throughout the world, reliability is incorporated in power system planning and operation using traditional deterministic techniques. This is the case with the Nepal Power System (NPS), where developed expansion plans have been based on nonprobabilistic criteria. This paper illustrates the application of probabilistic methods to reliability evaluation of the NPS. Evaluations at both the generation and composite generation and transmission system levels have been performed. The overall system and nine major load centers have been assessed. These load points carry in total more than 54% of the system load. An assessment of an expansion plan proposed by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been performed. The results indicate the reliability implications associated with the system and the proposed expansion plan, and show that quantitative reliability evaluation of the NPS is both possible and practical.