Reliability cost/worth evaluation of bulk power system at Zafarana site in Egypt

There has been a rapid growth of renewable energy Sources in power systems due to environmental concerns in energy generation from the conventional sources. Growing demand for electrical energy and the concerns associated with limited reserves of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are also responsible for the development and increase in renewable energy utilization. Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources. The World Energy Council has estimated that wind energy capacity worldwide may increase to 474,000 MW by the year 2020. The basic function of an electric power system is to provide reliable and economic supply of power to all the consumers. It generally requires an increased investment in the system facilities to enhance the reliability of the system. It is therefore quite conflicting to supply power economically with a high level of reliability. A real system in Zafarana site at Egypt is simulated and analyzed at this paper to assess the impact of connecting Wind generation farms to the grid on the power system reliability indices at composite level including both the generation and transmission (HLII). In addition to positive impact of adding wind farms on the environmental concern. This study is important for planners to determine the reliability cost and worth of adding wind generation farms to the grid. The results of this work show the impact of adding wind generation farms on reliability both cost and worth evaluation. Also the results highlight that the key benefits from wind power application in a conventional power system is the offset in fuel cost thus reducing harmful emissions produced by fuel and therefore, providing environmental benefits.