Network topologies for increased renewable penetration

With the increased use of wind energy as a renewable source, several networks across the world have reached a situation wherein wind power exceeds demand at a local level. Shutting down wind generation during such times is not a comfortable situation as increased renewable penetration is sought largely to reduce emissions from fossil fuelled plants. We propose a number of alternative topologies that help increase the penetration of renewables. Central to the concepts are seasonal storage and the use of variable frequency transformers. A case study of the TNEB network in India is used to demonstrate the reduction in CO₂ emissions that are possible with this concept. The economic dispatch with emission is solved with a linear programming approach. The proposed network configurations are likely to have a direct impact on the newer sources of renewable energy such as wave and tidal current sources which have a greater seasonal variation and have reached near commercialization.