Evaluation of the network structure of electrical transmission networks

Growing uncertainties due to the promotion of renewable energies and the increase of cross-border trading enhance the number of scenarios of use for electrical transmission networks. This might cause unreasonable decisions regarding the upgrading of power grids as a result of widely accepted planning principles applied to the planning process for electrical transmission networks. In order to quantify the impact of these planning decisions, key figures to evaluate the network structure of electrical transmission networks are needed. These key figures must be able to quantify the differences between transmission networks with slightly changed network structures. In this paper, key figures that fulfill these requirements and take into account the growing uncertainties are derived and a method is described to calculate these key figures. Exemplary examinations show that the derived key figures can make a useful contribution to the planning process for electrical transmission networks.