A comprehensive AC load flow based framework for concurrent planning of transmission networks expansion and reactive power resources: an MILP formulation

Transmission network expansion planning is a challenging problem with the aim to determine the type, location, and time of the equipment to be added to the existing transmission network in order to desirably meet the increasing load demand. On the other hand, reactive power sources are the other important components of the power system, which are used improve voltage profile and maintain the system stability. This paper, presents a comprehensive AC load flow based framework for concurrent expansion planning of transmission networks and reactive power resources. Although major advances have been made in optimization techniques, finding an optimal solution to a problem of this nature is still challenging. Using some linearization techniques, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for transmission expansion and reactive power planning is proposed. In order to show the influence of the concurrent transmission network expansion and reactive power resources planning in reducing investment costs, simulation studies and analysis of the numerical results are carried out on the Garver 6-Bus and the standard IEEE 24-bus test system.