A new decomposition based method for optimal expansion planning of large transmission networks

A new method is presented for long-range transmission network expansion planning, based on the decomposition principle. The overall transmission expansion planning task is divided into two problems, the first one dealing with investments, and the second with operations. The investment problem is specified as the minimum cost problem of network programming, leading to the decomposition into the model of minimum load curtailment and the proposed model of the (local) marginal network. The operation problem is solved by applying the Monte Carlo simulation, with suitable control strategies and additional reliability constraints. The final result is the software package, verified on test examples, as well as on the real transmission network of the power pool of eastern Yugoslavia