Determination of regional transmission connection capacities in a deregulated environment

This paper discusses determination of transmission connection capacities based on distribution regions. In a deregulated environment in which generation and distribution parts of power system are deregulated, planning of transmission system investments is a cumbersome task. In addition, transmission system operators (TSO) have no direct control over plant investments. Instead, several mechanisms introduced to the electricity market considering the economical and reliable transmission expansion planning. In Turkish electricity market case, TSO is obliged to calculate regional allowable generation capacity for the next five and ten year period in order to encourage power plant investments to proper locations and to prevent possible inadequacy of transmission system in the future. In this study, regions are utilized according to distribution companies' geographic borders. The main purpose for capacity assessment work is the determination of available capacity for the connection of new generation to the transmission system. Besides, it indicates the weak points of transmission system that should be strengthened. The proposed method is applied to Turkish Transmission System for 2020 and 2025 summer peak loading condition scenarios.