AC-extended optimal power flow (AC XOPF) for reliable grid operations and planning in support of energy transition: Puerto Rico power grid case

This paper concerns critical role of AC Extended Optimal Power Flow (AC XOPF) in supporting reliable, economic and clean electricity service as the industry evolves. An AC XOPF has multiple performance criteria options, ranging across maximizing physical efficiency, economic efficiency, minimizing load not served, and relaxing thermal and/or voltage constraints to enable feasible AC power flow solution. All operating constraints are accounted for, and, optimization sensitivities are used to decide on the most effective scheduling of available controllable equipment, and, when necessary, on the critical upgrades. Notably, as the polluting fossil power plants are being decommissioned, the software can be used to determine the best locations of new distributed energy resources (DERs). The same software can be used for deciding on probabilistic planning at value. These features are illustrated using Puerto Rico bulk power system (BPS) modeled using publicly available data.