Study and analysis of wind curtailment situations and developing an appropriated methodology for its management

Recent energy policies in several countries around the world, including in Europe, points the need to integrating growing amounts of distributed generation in electric power systems, namely at distribution networks level. Such resources are mainly of a distributed, non-dispatchable, and natural sources based nature (including wind power). With this, several changes in the operation and planning of power systems have occurred. When facing a situation of excessive non-dispatchable generation, demand response programs and water pumping from reservoirs may be applied to encourage the increase of consumption so that wind curtailment is minimized. The methodology proposed in this paper aims to be used by a Virtual Power Player, who is able to manage the available energy resources optimizing its costs. The case study includes 2223 consumers and 47 distributed generators units. The implemented scenario corresponds to a real day in Portuguese power system, 9th March 2014.