Modeling optimal redispatch for the European Transmission grid

Abstract

The European Electricity System is undergoing fundamental changes in the next decades. Among other reasons the massive increase of electricity generation from renewable energy sources as well as the increasing cross-border power flows can be identified as the main drivers. This development leads to new challenges for the operation of the transmission grid as bulk power transfers over wide distances will increase rather than remain the exception. The current transmission grid on the other hand has not been designed to allow massive wide area power transfers resulting in overloadings and congestions. In order to deal with these congestions, three major congestion management methods can be conducted. The first one is the reinforcement of the transmission grid which can be regarded as a long term measure enhancing the overall transmission capacity of the grid. The second is the splitting of power markets into different pricing zones which is a medium term measure not enhancing the transmission capacity of the grid but ensuring that congestions remain the exception. The third option is redispatch, the adjustment of the power plants' dispatch to resolve congestions, which is applied in the short term. Redispatch volumes have been increasing over the last few years as the stressing of the transmission grid significantly increased and network reinforcement as well as market splitting are no feasible options in the short term. Thus it is probable, that redispatch will still be used to a significantly extend in the near future, making the identification of optimal redispatch measures advantageous. This paper therefore describes a methodology to identify such optimal redispatch measures for given generation dispatches and transmission networks.