Regional transmission planning for large-scale wind power

To incorporate large-scale wind generation in the Midwest ISO footprint, bulk transmission planning is necessary. In this paper, transmission planning for large-scale wind power is explained in detail. In expansion planning, the wind generation capacities are estimated from state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and the wind generator locations are chosen based on best wind source zones. From economic analysis, regional transmission enhancement or high voltage overlay projects will be developed to facilitate the transportation of low cost energy to the market. To develop additional transmission projects, two power flow cases (summer peak case and off-peak case) that represent the typical operating conditions are developed for transmission planning. In the summer peak case, wind generators are assumed to be dispatched at 15% of the capacity while in the off-peak case, the system load level is assumed at 70% of the peak load level and the wind generators are dispatched at full. The rest of the generators are dispatched based on security constrained economic dispatch. Contingency analysis of the two power flow cases will tell where are the constraints at lower voltage levels. An integrated transmission plan is therefore developed.