Assessing the impact of wind farm grid connection points on power system resilience to line outages

To mitigate climate change and meet increasing electricity demand, the global installed capacity of renewable energy sources like wind power is rapidly increasing. Further, external threats against the power system are expected to increase. The threats can arise from extreme weather events driven by climate change, or from antagonistic attacks like sabotage or military conflicts. The power grid is extensive and difficult to oversee due to its complexity and size and is therefore sensitive to such threats. Transmission lines are particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to harsh weather and the difficulty in monitoring them, making them susceptible to sabotage. With more wind power and external threats, it is crucial to study how wind farm integration affects power system resilience to severe line outages. In the present study, this scenario is investigated by simulating 29 different grid topologies 1 000 times each though Monte Carlo simulations. Each topology represents a case where conventional generators are replaced by wind farms. Severe line outages are triggered, and the effect is quantified in terms of disconnected load. The results show that replacing conventional generation by wind power can enhance the power system resilience. The outcome is determined by underlaying factors such as the installed wind power capacity, the electrical distance between wind farms, and the electrical distance between wind farms and loads. The finding that deliberate integration of wind power can enhance the resilience of a power system to severe line outages is important knowledge for transmission system operators and policymakers.