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Problems Associated with Power System Planning in Developing Countries

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Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 2013, 1, 1-7 1
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2013.14004 Published Online September 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jpee)

Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems

Interconnection
Abdullah M. Al-Shaalan
Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA.
Email: [email protected]

Received August 13th, 2013; revised September 12th, 2013; accepted September 20th, 2013

Copyright © 2013 Abdullah M. Al-Shaalan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.

ABSTRACT
This work aims at exploring the effects of the interconnection between isolated electric power systems upon some im-
portant aspects such as enhancing reliability levels along with reducing installation and operation costs. To discern the
advantages associated with this study, the developed methodology has been applied to three existing power systems in
the northern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presently within the concession domain of the Saudi Electric
Company (SEC). These systems have been established to meet the present loads and to withstand future electrical de-
mands for a period of time before additional generation and transmission reinforcements are needed. In this work, reli-
ability measures have been utilized to determine the period that these systems can fulfill the present and future loads
without affecting the reliability levels and the threshold that an additional capacity should be added to maintain those
required reliability levels. In application to the reliability criteria, technical, operational and economic advantages can
be realized, i.e., higher reliability levels and lower installation and operation costs after the proposed interconnection
between these selected isolated power systems take place.

Keywords: Reliability Index; Power System; Cost; Interconnection

1. Introduction has resulted in the development and applications of reli-

ability evaluation and modeling methodologies.
Interconnection of electrical power systems is an effec-
In power system reliability evaluation, the most widely
tive means of not only enhancing the overall system re-
used reliability index by electric companies is the Loss of
liability but also reducing its operating reserve. The di-
Load Expectation (LOLE). This index can be used for
versity existing between different systems in regard to
specifying the appropriate timing for future capacity ad-
their load requirements and capacity outages will allow
ditions as well as for comparing between various alterna-
the systems to assist each other in times of emergencies
tive expansion plans. It indicates the average power out-
and generation deficiencies. Also, it will permit systems
ages time accumulated in a specified period (for example,
to operate in less reserve than what would be required for
number of days in one year) due to capacity deficit. This
being isolated at a given risk level. The benefits that may
research will, also, demonstrate other complementary
accrue from systems interconnection depend mainly
reliability indices that are—to the author’s knowledge—
upon the operating reserves in the individual systems,
given less consideration in present realistic and applied
their outage rates, the tie-line capacity and the type of
cases. These indices are the “Expected Demand Not Serv-
agreement among the systems regarding the size of the
ed (EDNS)”, the “Expected Energy Not Served (EENS)”
emergency assistance.
and the “Energy Index of Reliability (EIR)”.
From the preceding section, it is evident that reliability
is one of the most important criteria which must be taken
into consideration during all phases of power system
2. Survey to Some Existing Works on Power
planning, design and operation. Reliability criterion is
Systems Interconnection
required to establish target reliability levels and to, con- In this section, an overview of some existing works is
sistently, analyze and compare the future reliability lev- attempted to get acquaintance with other countries’ ex-
els with feasible alternative expansion plans. This need periences and practices in systems interconnections. The

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

2 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection

author in [1] proposed a flexible AC power transmission Singapore-Malaysia interconnected power system based
link technology for linking two asynchronous independ- on application practice of the Campus-WAMS were pre-
ent power systems. The proposed flexible asynchronous sented and analyzed.
ac link (FASAL) system essentially consists of a rotating
transformer which is put in the ac tie-line between two 3. The Developed Methodology for the
separate power systems or grids. The direction and the Proposed Study
magnitude of power flow are controlled by controlling
For the purpose of this study, a computer program has
voltage and/or frequency. Simulink model of proposed
been developed (Figure 1) which can model and simu-
FASAL system has been developed for the analytical
late the methodologies and techniques adopted and
study and the result verifies the power transfer capability
demonstrated in this work. The following steps describe
of the proposed system.
the principal operations of this developed computer pro-
In Reference [2], the author suggested that for evalua-
gram.
tion of the synchronous interconnection of the African
regional power pools interconnection, security issues
3.1. When Systems Are Isolated
should be taken care of before any economic analysis is
done. Power system security studies have been used in 1) Specifying the data relevant to each system under
industries only at the time of planning. This paper also study.
addresses a future real time security system in operation 2) Building the Capacity Outage Probability Table
of liberated power pools. (COPT) for each system, using the Forced Outage Rates
In [3], the author stated the advantages, requirements (FOR’s) pertinent to each generating unit in each system.
and problems arising from the interconnection of electric 3) Convolving the COPT with the Load Duration
power systems in the Arab world. He also presented the Curve (LDC) for each individual system.
planning principles for grid systems, procedures for 4) Evaluating the risk index level “Loss-of-Load-Ex-
power system development planning, technical aspects of pectation (LOLEe)” for each individual system and then
interconnection and possibilities of increasing intercon- comparing it with the risk index level prescribed by the
nection capacity by limited means. The results of studies Management (LOLEp).
investigating the feasibility of interconnecting the power 5) If the LOLEe exceeds the LOLEp, extra unit(s) must
networks of the six countries, which form the Gulf Co- be added to the existing system capacity until the risk
operation Council (GCC), were presented. The author index level, prescribed by the management, is satisfied,
also showed existing and future interconnections of po- otherwise proceed to the next year and repeat the same
wer systems in the Arab world. process with the new forecasted load.
In [4], the author emphasized the need, especially in 6) Evaluating other complementary and essential indi-
developing countries, for consolidating the dispersed ces such as the Expected Demand Not Served (EDNS),
electric utilities in the isolated regions as a prerequisite Expected Energy Not Served (EENS) and the Energy
for future interconnecting these regions via local national Index of Reliability (EIR). These indices are used as evi-
grids and with other neighboring countries. dent indicators to enable the system planner to discern
In [5], the author presented methodologies and tech- between the planning outcomes and hence select the
niques that can be adopted and used in the quantitative most reliable and least cost among them. These indices
assessment of power system reliability and its application are utilized to vindicate the economic and technical mer-
to the cost/benefit evaluation in system generation ex- its of interconnecting power systems rather being dis-
pansion planning particularly for interconnected power persed and isolated.
systems. 7) Assessing and estimating the overall system cost
In [6], the authors proposed a PMU (phasor measure- based on the added generating unit(s) to the system at
ment unit) based on monitoring and estimation scheme of every stage of the planning horizon.
power system small-signal stability in Singapore-Malay-
sia interconnection power system through a 50 Hz and
3.2. When Systems Are Interconnected
500 kV transmission line. Two PMUs are installed in the 1) Specifying the data relevant to each system under
power system interconnection network of Singapore- study.
Malaysia. One PMU is located in Singapore and the 2) Building the Capacity Outage Probability Table
other one is in Malaysia (Penang). Both PMUs measure (COPT) for the combined systems (i.e. combine capacity
the single-phase voltage phasor. The data filtering tech- states with their associated probabilities).
nique based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was em- 3) Repeating the above mentioned steps (c-g). The ca-
ployed to extract oscillation data for single mode. Finally, pacity assistance CT is a capacity which can be trans-
some analysis results of monitoring and estimation of ferred through the tie-line and added to the existing

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection 3

(a) (b)

Figure 1. Flowchart processes of the adopted computational algorithm. (a) Isolated systems; (b) Interconnected systems.

capacity model of the assisted system. For the evaluation Jouf and Tabouk and designated in this study as (A), (B)
of the risk index level, the assisted system proceeds as in and (C) respectively. These cities are characterized by
the case of the isolated system risk index evaluation. high population density, multiple of governmental, in-
dustrial and agricultural projects, so, high future demand
4. Application of the Developed Methodology is anticipated. Recently, the existing power systems in
to Real-Case Systems these cities have been transferred to the domain of the
Saudi Electric Company (SEC) that has been established
The previous modeling techniques have been substanti- in 1999.
ated and then implemented on real and practical electric The generation expansion planning considered for this
power systems serving three large cities in the northern study spans over the next eight years (2012-2020) to spe-
region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, namely, Hail, cify the timings of capacity additions and to determine

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

4 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection

the reliability levels for each system before and after the nection between systems in enhancing and improving
proposed interconnection. The target is to explore and their reliability levels, the effect of interconnection upon
investigate the technical and economic merits that might other complementary reliability indices stated previously,
ensue as a result of systems interconnection. i.e. EDNS, EENS and EIR has been investigated. System
(A), being the largest among the three systems, has been
4.1. Technical Advantages of Systems selected for this demonstration. Figure 3 shows the re-
Interconnection sults of the investigation that declares to what extent the
size of the expected demand not served (EDNS) has been
The aim of this study is to specify the reliability levels
reduced after systems interconnection. Figure 4 also
for each system individually as a result of future load
shows the reduction in the expected energy not served
growth over the next eight years (with the assumption of
(EENS) due to the effect of interconnection. The EIR
no units addition to the system) and the expected dete-
index was also investigated and the results are shown in
rioration of reliability levels as a result of diminishing
Figure 5 where it is obvious from the figure that the en-
reserve and capacity deficit. After specifying the year
ergy loss has decreased and reliability indicator has risen
that reliability level has exceeded the prescribed reliabil-
to the better level after interconnection between the sys-
ity level, capacity addition (new generating units) can be
tems.
decided upon or interconnection with another system can
be an optional solution.
4.2. Economic Advantages of Systems
Figure 2 shows the results of the study that has been
Interconnection
conducted on the three systems: (A), (B) and (C) to in-
vestigate their reliability levels as being isolated over the The purpose of this part of this study is to assess the
next eight years using the LOLE criterion. It is clear from economic advantages that may yield as a result of inter-
the figure that if the required level of the LOLE is set at connection between the above mentioned three systems.
0.1 days/year, all systems will exceed that prescribed risk A study, which spans for eight years (2012-2020), has
level. Therefore, new generating units must be added to been conducted. The LOLE index has been specified for
each system to improve their risk levels and avoid power the three systems and set at 0.1 d/y and to be constant
outages and service interruptions. over that selected planning period (this number is con-
After adding concept of systems interconnection, the sidered to be reasonable as being adopted in industrial as
study has been conducted and the results are shown in well as fast developing countries). The study was con-
Figure 2 where it can be realized that reliability levels cerned about that threshold year that reliability will dete-
have been improved after system interconnection. For riorate (i.e. LOLE exceeds the prescribed specified limit)
instance, system (A) will need no capacity addition until as a result of future load growth. To correct the risk level
the year 2014, and with respect to systems (B) and(C) and maintain it within the prescribed limit set by the
they will exceed their reliability limits at years 2015 and management, additional generating units must be added
2016 respectively. (in case of system being isolated) or should be intercon-
To demonstrate and ensure the benefits of intercom- nected with other system(s) after the latter is reinforced

Figure 2. Systems LOLE levels before and after interconnection.

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection 5

Figure 3. EDNS before and after interconnection.

Figure 4. EENS before and after interconnection.

Figure 5. EIR before and after interconnection.

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

6 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection

by new generating units. For estimating the cost of the ment. The total system cost (TSC) depicts the overall
added units before and after interconnection, the proc- cost endured by the customers in return of power supply
esses shown and described in Section 4 have been util- and its availability.
ized. Figure 6 portrays the findings of this study where In an attempt to arrive at the most optimal reliability
they postulate that each system will benefit from being level that ensure the least system cost, the above men-
interconnected and there will be substantial savings [in tioned costs have been investigated employing system
Million USD (MUSD)] in both capital (fixed) and oper- (A). The results of the investigations are illustrated by
ating (variable) costs. This can be estimated as 56%, 50%, Figure 7 where it manifests that system cost (SC) in-
and 60% for systems (A), (B) and (C) [i.e. Hail, Jouf and creases as reliability level increases but the outage cost
Tabouk] respectively. Furthermore, there will be an im- (OC) decreases as a result of reliability improvement due
provement in the three systems reliability levels as ana- to more system investment and adequate generating ca-
lyzed and discussed in the preceding section. pacity additions. The most optimal range of reliability
levels, as depicted by the figure, varies between 0.338
4.3. Optimal Reliability Level and 0.675 days/year. However, in some cases adding new
capacity may not signify the ideal solution to meet in-
Evaluation of optimal reliability levels is a major step in
creasing future loads and maintain better reliability levels.
power system planning process to ensure continuous and
Therefore, it is better to enhance operating unit’s per-
quality service with reasonable cost. The system planners
formance through regular preventive maintenance. Also,
perform sensitivity analysis based on economic varia-
it is an imperative to establish a good co-operation be-
tions, installation and transmission costs. Therefore,
tween the supply side (electric company) and the demand
LOLE reliability index has been applied for system (A)
side (the consumers) through well-coordinated load ma-
electric system using the economic concepts and the re-
nagement strategies, improving system load factor and
liability criterion shown in Type equation here [4,5]. In
correction of power factor. Hence, system will be capa-
the analysis, new generating units of 68 MW (identical to
ble of meeting loads efficiently and reliably particularly
the present installed units in system A) have been added
in power system interconnection.
to the system when reliability levels deteriorate below
the prescribed level. To arrive at the most appropriate
5. Conclusion
range of reliability levels, system cost (SC) has been
weighted with the outages cost (OC). System cost in- In this study, reliability and costs criteria have been es-
cludes unit installation cost as well as the fuel and main- tablished and applied for power systems planning and
tenance cost. Outages cost represents the cost of losses interconnection. To substantiate the developed method-
suffered by the society (all classes of customers) due to ology, three electric power systems in the northern region
insufficient capacity and consequently, energy curtail- of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been selected as a

Figure 6. Cost (MUS$) for isolated and interconnected systems.

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JPEE

 Technical and Economical Merits of Power Systems Interconnection 7

servation, College of Engineering, King Saud University

for supporting this work.

REFERENCES
[1] I. Imdadullah, “Flexible Asynchronous ac Link for Power
System Network Interconnection,” IEEE Poly-Tech Con-
ference on Electrical Engineering Section, Cleveland,
29-31 May 2012, pp. 1-6.
[2] M.-S. Chen, “Security Issues of Power System Intercon-
nection,” IEEE Power Engineering Society, General Meet-
ing, 12-16 June 2005, Vol. 2, pp. 1797-1800.
[3] E. S. Ibrahim, “Interconnection of Electric Power Sys-
tems in the Arab World,” IEEE Power Engineering Jour-
nal, Vol. 10, No. 3, 1996, pp. 121-127.
doi:10.1049/pe:19960303
[4] A. M. Shaalan, “Essential Aspects of Power System Plan-
ning in Developing Countries,” Journal of King Saud,
Figure 7. Variation of reliability levels with total system Engineering Science, Vol. 23, No. 1, 2011, pp. 28-32.
cost. [5] A. M. Shaalan, “Reliability Evaluation in Generation
Expansion Planning Based on the Expected Energy Not
model for this study. These systems, at the present time, Served,” Journal of King Saud, Engineering Science, Vol.
are isolated, dispersed and subjected to random failures. 24, No. 1, 2012, pp. 11-18.
The results display the advantages and benefits that may [6] D. Despa, Y. Mitani, L. Changsong and M. Watanabe,
accrue from systems interconnection in upgrading reli- “PMU Based Monitoring and Estimation of Intercon-
ability levels, reducing systems cost, limiting service nected Power Oscillation for Singapore-Malaysia Inter-
connection Power Systems,” IEEE Conference on Power
cease and mitigating energy interruptions. Engineering Society General Proceedings, Singapore City,
27-29 October 2010, pp. 476-480.
6. Acknowledgements
The Author thanks Al-Zamil Chair for Electricity Con-

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