Time-space Methods for Determining Locational Reserves: A Framework for Location Based Pricing and Scheduling for Reserve Markets Final Report

An overriding factor in the power system operation is the maintenance of system security. Historically, the term security, when applied to the electric power system, refers to the ability of the bulk system to withstand sudden disturbances such as electric short circuits or unanticipated loss of system components. The static nature of the problem, that is, guaranteeing that in the post-contingency state all power system components are operating within established limits, is tractable once the set of credible contingencies is known. Generally, the most severe contingency is the sudden and unanticipated loss of a large generating unit although the loss of a critical line or a sudden and large increase in load at strategic locations could be just as catastrophic. The problem of whether or not the system can survive the transition, that is, the dynamic nature of system security, is still a hard and unresolved problem. Since in most systems load is not dispatchable, the security of the system depends on having the proper level, location and type of operating reserves available when needed to meet a contingency.