A Method for Optimal Spinning Reserve Allocation in Isolated Power Systems Incorporating an Improved Speed Governor Model

In isolated power systems, frequency stability is traditionally considered to be assured by maintaining sufficient spinning reserve that is usually equal to the largest generation output of all the units in operation. However, the system security depends on the spinning reserve allocation to the units in operation and the provision of adequate emergency or fast reserve that need be available in the first crucial seconds after a loss of generation event. The system emergency reserve is usually much lower than that expected if only the unit droops are taken into account. Also, the generating units can be overloaded for a short time period and this capability can contribute to a faster frequency restoration. This paper presents an improved speed governor model that utilizes the short time overloading capability of the generating units. The efficient computational method described in the paper for the optimal spinning reserve allocation in isolated power systems was developed by taking into account a composite security criterion in the most economic way. Furthermore, a statistical analysis is presented in order to investigate the contribution of spinning reserve to the short-term system security. In the paper the developed method is applied to a typical isolated power system and it demonstrates its advantages.