A New Model for Transmission Network Expansion and Reactive Power Planning in a Deregulated Environment

Abstract

Transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) is a challenging issue especially in new restructured electricity mar- kets environment. TNEP can be incorporated with reactive power planning in which the operating conditions will be satisfied. In this paper a combinatorial mathematical model has been presented to solve transmission expansion and reactive power planning problem (TEPRPP) simultaneously. The proposed model is a non-convex problem having a mixed integer nonlinear nature where the number of candidate solutions to be evaluated increases exponentially ac- cording to the system size. The objective function of TEPRPP comprises the new circuits’ investment and production costs as well as load curtailment penalty payments. A real genetic algorithm (RGA) aimed to obtaining a significant quality solution to handle such a complicated problem has been employed. An interior point method (IPM) is applied to solve the proposed concurrent optimization problem in the solution steps of TEPRPP model. This paper proposes a new methodology for the best location as well as the capacity of VAr sources; it is tested on two well-known systems; the Garver and IEEE 24-bus systems. The obtained results show the capability and the viability of the proposed TEPRPP model incorporating operating conditions.