Steady-state security in distribution networks with large wind farms

Abstract

© 2014, The Author(s). Aging network assets, forced and unforced outages, and the way the networks are operated in a deregulated market are of significant concerns to integrate large wind farms in a distribution network. In many cases, the constrained network capacity is a potential barrier to the large-scale integration of wind power. This paper probabilistically assesses the steady-state security in a distribution network in the presence of large wind farms. The approach incorporates active distribution network operating conditions, including intermittent power outputs, random outages, demand fluctuations, and dynamic interactions and exchanges, and then assesses the steady state security using Monte Carlo simulation. A case study is performed by integrating large wind farms into a distribution network. The results suggest that intermittent outputs of large wind farms in a distribution network can impact the steady-state security considerably. However, the level of impact of wind farms does not necessarily correlate with the installed capacity of them.