Early Release of Interconnector Capacity

Due to the long thin nature of a particular transmission system operator's power system, there were oscillatory stability constraints. When new interconnections were commissioned, or existing interconnectors augmented, there was the potential for system damping to be adversely impacted.

In response, the operator developed a process for approving new interconnectors or augmentation relying on non-invasive measurement of damping of oscillations. Given that system studies indicated that the change to the system should be stable, capacity is released conditionally, provided that the dynamics of the system are monitored. In due course, the market conditions cause the newly released capacity to be used. If the system is shown to be stable in the new operating regime, and the behaviour is consistent with the expectation, the capacity could then be released as firm capacity.

This solution is only possible because Psymetrix on-line damping monitoring is in place, allowing the operator to release capacity and wait for an indefinite period for the market to utilise the released capacity. This avoids costly interventions in the market to force particular test conditions.

Furthermore, if poor damping events are detected by the Psymetrix system, and associated with inter-area modes likely to be impacted by the increased flows, the operator is able to reduce capability back to the pre-test level, thereby resolving the issue.

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Early Release of Interconnector Capacity