Available transfer capacity evaluation within complex power systems. Theory, software tool and case study

Growing uncertainty in power systems coupled with the introduction of power markets calls for the development of new tools for planning, operations and market-based decision-making. The Available Transfer Capacity (ATC) evaluation represents the fundamental security operational standard of the transmission network, in case of the new operating conditions of the power systems. Fast and accurate evaluation of the ATC (additional power which can be transferred over a transmission network between a source and a sink) is essential to the efficient use of networks in a deregulated environment. Power marketers trade power using a variety of tools such as the ATC computing to make economic trade decisions and to value transmission resources. The theoretical aspects, the mathematical model and software tool developed are sustained by numerical results. The power system used as case study refers to the Romanian Power System.