Reliability assessment of generation capacity in modern power systems via analytical methodologies

Abstract

With the recent transition to a low-carbon electrical power system (EPS), the large-scale utilization of renewable energy resources in electrical power generation introduces a substantial amount of uncertainty on the generation side of the EPS. This uncertainty, along with the inherent uncertainty of electricity demand, makes assessing generation reliability a very computationally intensive process. To enhance the computation efficiency of EPS generation reliability assessment, it is crucial to have an efficient probabilistic model of available generation capacities that strikes a balance between improved computational performance and model accuracy. In this paper, various probabilistic models are proposed to characterize the variability and uncertainty of conventional and renewable power generations (photovoltaic and wind). On the basis of these models, an analytical formulation of probabilistic reliability indices (RIs) is implemented. The computation time and accurate RIs values found using the Monte Carlo simulation method serve as the basis for reporting solving time improvements with corresponding losses in the accuracy of the RIs for different analytical methodologies. The results of multiple case studies of an EPS are presented, considering various combinations of conventional and renewable generation capacity, levels of renewable power penetration, and system reliability levels. The results indicate the practical implementation of analytical assessment methodologies compared to the simulation method in terms of accuracy and computational effort. This study is of immediate relevance and potential importance to operational reliability and generation expansion planning studies in EPSs.