Efficient Multi-Year Security Constrained AC Transmission Network Expansion Planning

Solution of multi-year, dynamic AC Transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) problem is gradually taking center stage of planning research owing to its potential accuracy. However, computational burden for a security constrained AC TNEP is huge compared to that with DC TNEP. For a dynamic, security constrained AC TNEP problem, the computational burden becomes so very excessive that solution for even moderately sized systems becomes almost impossible. Hence, this paper presents an efficient, four-stage solution methodology for multi-year, network N-1 contingency and voltage stability constrained, dynamic ACTNEP problems. Several intelligent logical strategies are developed and applied to reduce the computational burden of optimization algorithms. The proposed methodology is applied to Garver 6, IEEE 24 and 118 bus systems to demonstrate its efficiency and ability to solve TNEP for varying system sizes.