Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Considering Reactive Power Support from Renewable Energy Generators

Due to integration of large amount of renewable energy generators (REGs) to the power grid, implementation of reactive power support mechanisms as well as their optimal placement and operation are becoming a real challenge for the transmission/distribution system operators. Besides, because of the stochastic nature of renewable energy generation, reactive power planning and optimization in renewable rich power grids are an arduous task. In this paper, an optimal reactive power dispatch problem is formulated incorporating the reactive power support from the renewable energy generators. Two coordinated optimization algorithms (particle swarm optimization and pattern search algorithm) are combined to enhance the optimization performance. Finally, the IEEE 39 New England test bus system is modified and used to perform the optimization.