Network topologies for increased renewable penetration

With the increased use of wind energy as a renewable source, several networks across the world have reached a situation wherein wind power exceeds demand at a local level. Shutting down wind generation during such times is not a comfortable situation as increased renewable penetration is sought largely to reduce emissions from fossil fuelled plants. We propose a number of alternative topologies that help increase the penetration of renewables. Central to the concepts are seasonal storage and the use of variable frequency transformers. A case study of the TNEB network in India is used to demonstrate the reduction in CO2 emissions that are possible with this concept. The economic dispatch with emission is solved with a linear programming approach. The proposed network configurations are likely to have a direct impact on the newer sources of renewable energy such as wave and tidal current sources which have a greater seasonal variation and have reached near commercialization. © 2007 RPS.