Impact assessment of wind power generation on the Icelandic power transmission grid

• Main Author: Brynjar Eiríksson 1982-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn í Reykjavík
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Raforkuverkfræði; Meistaraprófsritgerðir; Vindorka; Raforkuframleiðsla; Dreifikerfi; Electric power engineering; Wind power; Electric power; Electric power distribution; Búrfell; Dalasýsla; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/39394

Wind power generation is under consideration by many interested parties in Iceland. Along with ongoing trial runs and wind speed measurements, numerous feasibility studies have been conducted with some promising results. The studies indicate that wind conditions on-shore in Iceland can be compared with the best off-shore conditions in Europe. It is therefore likely that wind farms will join the Icelandic power grid in the near future. The Icelandic grid is isolated from the mainland and is operated based on a fairly predictable market since approximately 80% of the energy consumption is based on long-term contracts with the power intensive industry. However, the intermittent nature of wind power generation can possibly lead to grid instabilities causing power delivery reliability reduction when combined with transmission grid operations based on present procedures. In this thesis, a novel method for time-stepped power flow simulations is developed using the PyPSA software package, employing PyPSA's distributed slack bus functionality as a way of emulating dispatch reduction in hydroelectric power plants in tandem with intermittent wind generation. A simulation of Iceland's transmission grid which includes hourly load and generation records encompassing one year is supplemented with a wind power generation profile which is synthesised from wind speed measurement data. A wind farm is simulated at three respective locations in Iceland, Dalasýsla, Langanes and Búrfell. The results of the simulation are analysed by comparing relative changes in power line transmission in the context of limits set by Landsnet in order to maintain grid stability. This study finds that wind generation in Iceland may cause transmission limit overreaches that are likely to increase strain on the 132 kV ring connection along Iceland's coastlines. A wind farm in Dalasýsla was observed to have some benefits to transmission line loading along the east-west power transmission corridors, while a wind farm in Langanes was seen to cause the ...