Security Constrained MODGTEP using Adaptive Hybrid Meta-heuristic Approach

Due to the ever-increasing electricity demand, network expansion solutions from the Transmission Constrained Generation Expansion Planning (TC-GEP) process may not be adequate and thus the transmission network needs be expanded together with the generation system. Separation of the two processes of network expansion whose results must be combined during implementation will often lead to sub-optimal expansion plans. This concern has given rise to the integrated Generation and Transmission Expansion Planning (GTEP) optimization problem. In this paper the GTEP problem is formulated in a multi-objective and dynamic environment. The multi-objective function considers investment, production and outage costs as well as penalties related to system voltage violations and active power loss. In addition, the proposed formulation considers system redundancy. To increase on the reliability of the results the formulations are based on AC power flow models. The formulated MOGTEP problem is optimized using adaptive hybrid meta-heuristic approach. This approach is suitable for handling the highly dimensional and complex problem. The obtained results showed the superiority of the proposed MODGTEP formulation and solution methodology to other reviewed solution techniques. The proposed methodology produced less costly and more reliable expansion plans. Inclusion of the contingency analysis led to increase in the committed elements (generators and transmission lines) so as to account for any planned and forced outages in the system.