Integration of Two HVDC lines into the Alberta Power System

摘要

Alberta is integrating two mono pole HVDC lines, with 1000 MW capacity for each line, into its electric system. These HVDC lines are planned to be commissioned and operational in Q(x) 2015. The HVDC lines are embedded into the heart of the existing AC network and as such will have a significant impact on the daily operation of the Alberta electric system. This paper presents a summary of the initiatives and considerations that the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) took to integrate this technology into the Alberta electric system, including development of the necessary tools for its operational assessment. The AESO initiated scope of work to integrate the HVDC lines into the electric system in 2011. The following main questions were taken into considerations: 1) What are the highest transfer levels on the HVDC lines without causing any adverse impact on reliable operation of the AC system? 2) What determines the transfer limits? 2) How does HVDC operation impact local area operations, capability limits, and intertie transfer limits? 3) How should the HVDC lines be utilized to remove or reduce system constraints that could have potential adverse impact on market conditions? 4) How the HVDC dispatch can be optimized to reduce overall system losses when not used for reliability purposes? 5) What AESO staff competencies will need to be developed with respect to HVDC knowledge of operations and performance to facilitate the day to day operations of the new HVDC lines? The processes behind the system analyses, and developments of the operational tools to address the above questions are discussed in this paper. The topics covered are: 1. Methodology used to determine system limits with respect to the HVDC dispatch. 2. Use of PSSe python code to automate the simulations and analyze the results. 3. Creation of HVDC dispatch operation limit nomograms. 4. Approach used to understand the effects and complexity of the two HVDC transfer levels on the overall system losses. 5. The development of a HVDC course containing 29 modules that was delivered to all impacted staff in less than a year.