Generation Scheduling in a system with Wind Power

In recent years, environmental concerns have sig nificantly increased the pressure for cleaner and more efficient generation of electricity. In the UK and some European countries, there are requirements to produce a certain amount of electricity from renewable generation. Wind power is expected to contribute significantly to the renewable energy targets owing to advance ments in wind technologies, falling capital costs, abundance of the free resource and commercial viability. However, wind is intermittent and unpredictable, posing serious threats to power system security. Despite the changes in generation mix and the market operation of power systems, priority remains on maintaining system security and minimising operation costs. This poses a fundamental challenge to the traditional generation scheduling methodologies that have worked well in hydrothermal dominated and vertically integrated environments. This paper evaluates the impact of wind generation on the generation schedule, particularly the overall fuel cost, amount of emissions and system security. The analysis is based on the IEEE30 bus test system, with conventional and wind generation plant over a period of one week. Results show that spinning reserve and production costs increase with increasing amounts of intermit tent generation and emissions are reduced accordingly. System security initially improves but deteriorates with significant wind power penetration.