Penetration of renewable energy sources in isolated and weakly interconnected power systems can be increased in a secure and reliable way, if advanced control tools are available to the operators of these systems. The main features of these control tools comprise advanced software modules for load and wind power forecasting, unit commitment and economic dispatch of the conventional and renewable units and on-line security assessment capabilities integrated in a friendly Man-Machine environment. The opportunities offered by storage systems, mainly pumped hydro storage systems, in further increasing the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources in isolated systems, the current developments in the liberalization of Electricity Markets worldwide, the increased security requirements of island systems and the experience gained from the installation and operation of such advanced control tools, dictate the needs for the extension of their capabilities to cover new demands. More specifically:

Many medium and large size islands possess significant potential for energy storage, mainly in the form of small hydro plants. The proper exploitation of this form of renewable generation can contribute significantly in the improvement of the reliability and dynamic performance of the system and thus in further increase of renewable penetration.

The liberalization of the electricity market worldwide sets new objectives in the economic operation of the system. Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch functions need to be developed to consider the new operating conditions.

The on-line security modules have so far been used only for Security Assessment and Monitoring, i.e. exclusively in preventive mode. Experience has shown that significant help can be provided if restorative (corrective) security advice is also provided to the operators.

The project has as main objective the development of MORE CARE, an advanced control software system aiming to optimise the overall performance of isolated and weakly interconnected systems in liberalized market environments by increasing the share of wind energy and other renewable forms of energy (e.g. hydro, PV, etc.). It takes into account pumped hydro storage facilities and providing advanced on-line security functions, both in predictive and corrective mode.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The proposed work comprises collection of data, their analysis and identification of the needs for the following developments of on-line control functions:

Improved wind power forecasting modules for a short-term (0-8 hour) and medium time horizon (4-48 hours) taking into account on-line data as well as meteorological forecasts from numerical weather prediction systems like Hirlam, Skiron etc.

Advanced load forecasting functions. Load forecasting for the case of isolated systems presents several difficulties related to the requirement for frequent updates, frequent load variations etc.

Hydro power forecasting functions

Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch modules that take into account the availability of hydro-storage, liberalized market conditions and increased security conditions.

On-line security modules to provide both preventive and remedial advice in case of predetermined disturbances.

A number of alternative technologies will be applied for the update and development of the new software modules providing flexibility for their adaptation in island systems with increased penetration from renewables.

INSTALLATIONS IN THE PROJECT

Installation of the MORE-CARE software system with enhanced and new forecasting, operational planning and security modules on Crete, in order to face effectively the new operating conditions.

Installation of the MORE-CARE software with enhanced and new forecasting, operational planning and security modules on Madeira, in order to face effectively the operating conditions with very high wind power penetration.

Development of wind power forecasting module for the power system of Ireland.

MORE-CARE Project

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