Multi-Area DC-OPF for HVAC and HVDC Grids

In interconnected power systems, operated by several system operators, the participating areas are strongly dependent on their neighbors. In order to identify the economically efficient generation dispatch in each area, a distributed multi-area optimal power flow (OPF) must be solved. Additionally, installation of an increasing number of HVDC lines to deal with increased power flows from renewable generation is expected to change the power system operation paradigm. The controllability introduced by the HVDC lines should be considered and incorporated in the OPF algorithm. In this paper we introduce a formulation for the distributed solution of the OPF problem in multi-area systems consisting of both HVAC and HVDC lines. We show the applicability of this formulation on two different operating schemes for HVDC grids and we compare their performance with a central solution for the mixed HVAC/HVDC grid. The proposed formulations are based on a linearized solution of the OPF problem. The only data to be exchanged between the areas pertains to the border nodes.