EPRI-VCA: Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Tool

An adequate dynamic reactive reserve is essential for the operational reliability of a power system. Transmission system operators have recognized the need for improved voltage control and reactive power management approaches to handle the more complex coordination and interactions among controllers under the stringent operating conditions imposed by the emerging generation landscape and other system changes. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has developed a methodology and software tool to help transmission operators schedule and control static and dynamic reactive power (var) resources in a systematic manner. The software tool, called VCA Studio, identifies voltage control areas and schedules var resources solving a voltage secure multi-period optimal reactive power dispatch optimization (MP-ORPD) problem. The MP-ORPD problem considers the critical buses and critical contingencies and finds the set of preventive control set-points to ensure the system is secure under critical contingencies. This paper describes the methodology and main characteristics of the VCA Studio tool and a sample set of results obtained from case studies on various utility systems in Eastern Interconnection.