Stochastic OPF via Bender´s method

This paper describes an algorithm for the solution of the stochastic optimal power flow problem; the stochastic OPF minimizes the total cost of a base case operating state plus the expected cost of recovery from any contingency such as a line or generator outage. The algorithm uses Bender´s decomposition to separate the OPF into smaller, coupled subproblems which can be solved quickly and efficiently. The solutions of the individual subproblems are coordinated by the addition of linear constraints to a master problem. Typical results show a slight increase in the cost of the base case operating state but a significant reduction in the expected cost of contingency recovery, reflecting the economies of corrective planning compared with preventive. The computations themselves are efficient and practical