Automated approach to power system operational planning and congestion management for a system with high levels of renewable generation

The Ireland and Northern Ireland power system is undergoing a period of rapid transition from a dependence on conventional fossil fuel based generation to an increased reliance on distributed renewable generation, to date, mainly wind generation. Large quantities of wind generation have already connected and are concentrated in the west. This creates large west to east power flows across the network under high wind conditions as the main demand centre and HVDC interconnection is located in the east. Under high wind conditions, thermal congestion issues are seen on the network. As the amount of installed wind on the system has increased, these issues have started to shift from localised issues to inter-regional congestion issues associated with the thermal limitations of key west to east power flow paths. An assessment of wind generator effectiveness in managing such inter-regional issues requires more complex analysis than for localised congestion issues. EirGrid has developed an automation tool to facilitate this analysis and to allow for an efficient look-ahead assessment of the effect of changing transmission outages and network sectionalising arrangements on thermal congestion issues associated with high wind generation. This paper outlines the methodology behind the tool and presents some analysis carried out using the tool.