An optimal reactive power planning strategy against voltage collapse

This paper introduces a method of determining the minimum amount of shunt reactive power (VAr) support which indirectly maximizes the real power transfer before voltage collapse is encountered. Using a relaxation strategy that operates with a predictor-corrector/optimization scheme, a voltage stability index that serves as an indirect measure to the closeness of reaching the steady state voltage stability limits is obtained. Sensitivity information that identifies weak buses is also available for locating effective VAr injection sites.>