Challenges to Power System Planning In Presence of SMART GRIDs

摘要

With the advent of the smart grid concept, the power grid requires to be smarter with enhancedrncapabilities and functionalities within distribution networks. Successful applications of smart gridrntechnologies will require an enterprise level system perspective which views both generators and loadsrnas an integrated and autonomous subsystem. Smart grid concepts promise to be more reliable,rnefficient, dynamic and open in terms of operations, energy flow and management. This will require allrnthe existing, individual sections and functions of the complete power system to get equally “Smart”rnbut not necessarily all at the same time. Consequently the analysis tools used for system planning willrnalso have to become smarter in terms of their adaptability, functionality and integration. In fact, thernanalysis tools will have to be smarter before anything else!rnThe smart grid is a complex network system that will evolve and operate in a diverse and challengingrnenvironment. It will necessarily combine very large and complex facilities with a vast number ofrnintelligent devices such as smart meters, relays, control and monitoring systems. Power systemrnsimulation studies and analysis is a long established foundation stone for the development of powerrnsystem networks from historically small LT DC networks to the highly complex, interconnected ACrnand HVDC networks of today. In addition; the future wide utilisation of renewable energy sources atrndomestic level is rapidly becoming a reality with the reduced costs of such devices. The capability ofrnthe HT and even the LT networks will have to be enhanced to enable this ongoing and evolvingrnprocess of change. Consequently planning, protection and reliability issues will all become far morernchallenging. In depth analysis of all possible scenarios, possibly in real time, will be a key to ensurernthe desired level of reliability and availabiltiy. Existing simulation and analysis tools do have some ofrnthe required capabilities for modelling conceivable scenarios, but lack features that will be essentialrnfor studying and analysing future smart grids. For example, most tools have the capability ofrnmodelling single phase loads and carry out unbalanced load flow but not many can simulate a singlernphase generator at LT level!rnTo support the needs of the smart grid, many sophisticated software tools will be required to interoperaternactively (in real time) or passively. Utility companies responsible for secure power systemrnoperation will need to model their systems considering control, security and economic functions. Torninter-operate with SCADA in real time, object oriented commercial software tools will have to includernelements of modelling beyond a simple node/breaker model. Planning software tools will have torninclude parameters like substation bus segments, breakers, and measurement details. Most of therncommercial power system analysis tools available today have different modelling approaches and datarnformats to allow flexible power system modelling. Standardization in modelling and parameterizationrnof the system is a future requirement to ensure lossless and secure data exchange between intelligentrnand smart applications/devices.rnThis paper, discusses the required enhanced capabilities that will be an essential requirement inrnsoftware packages to permit smart grid studies. The challenges to be faced in bringing about thesernfeatures and capabilities, i.e. making tools Smart Grid ready are also discussed. The objectives of this paper is to introduce smart grid concepts to power system planning engineers,rnpresent the challenges power system operations engineers can expect with the Smart Grid Evolution,rnand to introduce the practicalities of using commercial software tools to accommodate Smart Gridrnapplications.