Resiliency Planning and Analysis Tool for the Power Grid with Hydro Generation and DERs

Abstract

High-impact low-probability (HILP) events such as hurricanes, snow storms, heat waves, and floods cause widespread power outages and blackouts. With the increasing challenges concerning the threats to the power systems and the growing need to mitigate the impacts of the HILP events, resilience has become a crucial desirable characteristic for the power grid infrastructures. The operators within the control center of the power grid need to analyze previous threats as well as predict other possible threats so that pre-planning can be done to mitigate its impact on the overall power system. This paper explains the development of planning and analysis tool for the resilient power grid with hydro generation and distributed energy resources (DERs). Hydro resources need to be coordinated with DERs to meet the grid resilience requirements while meeting water constraints. We discussed in detail the importance of the tool and its functionality taking isolated power system with hydro and DERs, and grid connected utility system as case studies. This tool facilitates the operator to identify the possible threats so that they can visualize and prepare strategies for assets safety, maintain inventory, alert customers beforehand, and reduce its impact on system resilience. Finally, the qualitative assessment of the tool's ability is presented to explain its contribution and effectiveness. It includes details about how investing in smart grid technologies such as remote-controlled switches, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and increased distribution automation can be beneficial for resilience enhancement.