Reactive Power Planning using Security-Constrained AC Optimal Power Flow and Sensitivity Analyses

This paper proposes an approach for siting and sizing reactive power sources in order to maintain adequate reactive power reserves in future loading scenarios. We consider both normal and post-contingency operation using a security-constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) formulation to compute the minimum-required reactive power reserves. To maintain tractability, the SCOPF explicitly considers a small set of important contingencies that are identified using a continuation power flow. The remaining contingencies are evaluated using the SCOPF solution. Any violated contingencies are iteratively added to the considered set in the SCOPF formulation until all contingencies are satisfied. Our approach combines this SCOPF formulation with a bus sensitivity index that identifies potential locations for new reactive power supply. We demonstrate the proposed approach on the IEEE 30- and 118-bus test cases.