Opportunities and Challenges For Interconnection of Iran Grid Into Neighboring Countries-Ver00

Opportunities and Challenges for Interconnection of
Iran Grid into Neighboring Countries
Opportunities and Challenges for Interconnection of Iran Grid into Neighboring Countries
Abstract
International power grid interconnections provide links between the electricity transmission
systems of two or more adjoining countries, and thus allow those countries to share power
resources. As different countries are differently endowed with natural resources, energy trade
among countries, as it has for centuries helps to reduce energy prices and increase energy supply in
importing countries, while providing a means of income for exporting countries. Most fuels can be
transported by land or sea, by cart, freighter, truck, train, or tanker. Electricity, however, is
generally not (yet) easily storable in bulk quantities, and must therefore be transferred by power
lines.
International grid interconnections can be as modest as the one way transfer of a small amount of
electricity from one country to another, or as ambitious as the full integration of the power systems
and markets of all of the countries in a region. Whatever the scale, international power grid
interconnections can help to contribute toward the process of sustainable development. Grid
interconnections can help to increase the supply and/or reliability of electricity for use in education,
employment generation, health care, and many other development related activities, and can
contribute toward the formation of competitive markets for electricity on national and regional
scales, helping to potentially reduce the cost of electricity to developing economies. International
power grid interconnections are often, however, extremely complex undertakings, with technical,
economic, legal, political, social, and environmental issues (costs, benefits, and considerations) that
must be taken carefully into account before and as arrangements for power sharing are made.
A small sampling of the many issues associated with international power grid interconnections
includes:
Technical issues, such as grid stability benefits, potential costs in the form of impacts on
the national grid of technical problems in an interconnected network, and considerations in
transferring power between grids with different technical standards of power quality and
reliability.
Economic issues, such as benefits in the form of avoided fuel, capacity, and operating
requirements for one or both countries (for example, through taking advantage of
economies of scale), costs in the form of required payments for transmission
infrastructure, and considerations such as deciding on electricity pricing, national
contributions toward interconnection costs, and the impact of power from interconnections
on local economies.
Legal issues, including benefits in the form of model legal standards for cooperative
activities of all types, costs such as the need to adapt National laws and practices to
international standards, and complications such as determining jurisdictions for settling
disputes, deciding on protocols for selecting contractors, and determining liability for
third-party injuries due to activities related to the power line.
Political issues, for example, benefits such as increasing cooperation and understanding
between governments linked by the interconnections, liabilities such as additional
2
exposure to potential political instabilities in a neighboring country, and considerations

such as existing political rivalries between would be electricity trading partners.
Social issues, with benefits in the form of improved access to electricity for development
related activities, but potential costs in the form of, for example, intrusion of power lines
into traditional areas used by indigenous peoples, and considerations such as providing
opportunities for all affected social groups to provide input into the interconnection
planning process.
Environmental issues, including potential benefits such as avoided greenhouse gas,
regional, local and indoor air pollution, possible costs such as the impacts of power lines
on animal populations, and considerations such as compliance with local and international
regulations and protocols, and coordination in operation of grid interconnections so as to
maximize environmental benefits.
As such, any development of international electricity grid interconnections requires thorough
analysis that crosses a number of disciplines, from engineering and economics/finance though
sociology and environmental science with different priorities. As will be mentioned in this report
two cases-, the political, technical and economical issues are more important than other issues in
synchronization. Even, some issues are neglected or postponed into 2020 to 2030 (different in each
country based on its potential for changing) for environmental and social issues in the purpose of
interconnection into European interconnection power system. The legal issue has intermediate
priority among above issues.
The structure of this report is as follow: the history, benefits and obstacles of the power system
interconnection and the international trends for the synchronous power system interconnection are
presented in the Introduction and in the next chapter; different aspects of interconnection are
described briefly. In chapter three and four, two examples of interconnection are surveyed. In the
last chapter, the required studies for interconnection of power system in accordance with the targets
of interconnection are described.
Contents
1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 8
1.1
Benefits of Grid Interconnections ........................................................................................ 8
1.2
Complexities and Risks of Grid Interconnections ............................................................... 9
1.3
Trends in Power Systems Interconnection ......................................................................... 10
1.4
Technological Opportunities .............................................................................................. 13
1.4.1 Interconnection Alternative ........................................................................................... 13
1.4.2 FACTS and Transit Regulations .................................................................................... 15
1.4.3 Changes in Generating Sets ........................................................................................... 16
2 Different Aspect of Grids Interconnection ............................................................................. 17
2.1
The Evolution of Interconnected Systems ......................................................................... 17
2.2
Economic and Financial Impacts ....................................................................................... 17
2.3
Legal and Political Impacts ................................................................................................ 18
2.4
Energy Security.................................................................................................................. 18
2.5
Technical Issues Associated with AC Grid Interconnection ............................................. 20
2.5.1 General Requirements .................................................................................................... 20
2.5.2 Transmission Issues ....................................................................................................... 20
2.5.3 Systems Issues ............................................................................................................... 21
2.6
Technical Issues Related to DC Interconnections ............................................................. 22
2.6.1 Why Use HVDC? .......................................................................................................... 22
2.6.2 Technical Considerations HVDC Systems .................................................................... 23
3 The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection: CEE and ENTSO-E .... 24
3.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 24
3.2
Historical Background of Development of CEE and Interconnection with ENTSO-E ..... 24
3.3
The Power Systems of the CEE Countries ........................................................................ 27
3.3.1 Generation Types in CEE .............................................................................................. 27
3.3.2 Transmission Systems of CEE Countries ...................................................................... 27
3.3.3 Energy Accounting and Control Center......................................................................... 27
3.3.4 Interconnections between CEE and ENTSO-E.............................................................. 28
3.4
Analysis of the ENTSO-E/CEE Power System ................................................................. 28
3.4.1 Stability of Power Systems ............................................................................................ 28
3.4.2 Event Calling Forth Possible Instabilities ...................................................................... 29
3.4.3 Evaluation of Inter Area Oscillations in ENTSO-E-CEE Power System ...................... 29
3.5
The interaction of Synchronization with Electricity Market ............................................. 30
3.5.1 Strategic Plan of EU....................................................................................................... 30
3.5.2 Energy Policy ................................................................................................................. 30
3.5.3 EU Internal Electricity Market....................................................................................... 31
3.5.4 EU Energy Infrastructures ............................................................................................. 32
3.5.5 External Energy Policy .................................................................................................. 32
3.5.6 Electricity Markets in CEE ............................................................................................ 33
4 The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection: Turkish power system
and ENTSO-E ........................................................................................................................... 34
4.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 35
4.2
The Turkish power system ................................................................................................. 37
4.3
Analysis of the dynamic behavior of the Turkish power system in isolated operation ..... 37
4.4
Inter area oscillation in the ENTSO-E power system before interconnection ................... 39
4.5
The enlarged ENTSO-E power system after interconnection............................................ 40
4.6
Improvement of the oscillation damping behavior of the enlarged ENTSO-E power
system by damping measures in the Turkish power system .......................................................... 43
4.6.1 Improvement measures .................................................................................................. 43
4.6.2 Power system stabilizer.................................................................................................. 44
4.6.3 Static Var Compensators (SVC) .................................................................................... 44
4.6.4 Braking resistor .............................................................................................................. 45
4.6.5 HVDC connection to Persian power system .................................................................. 45
4.7
Synchronization of ENTSO-E and Turkish power systems .............................................. 45
4.7.1 TEIAS parallel trial interconnection with ENTSO-Es synchronous zone Continental
Europe 46
5 Required Study for Interconnection ....................................................................................... 47
5.1
Evolution of the Planning Process ..................................................................................... 48
5.2
System Performance Analysis ........................................................................................... 48
5.3
Cost-Benefit Analysis ........................................................................................................ 49
5.4
Network Analysis............................................................................................................... 49
5.4.1 Aim of Network Analysis .............................................................................................. 49
5.4.2 Network Appropriateness towards Voltage Control ...................................................... 49
5.4.3 Power and Frequency Control ....................................................................................... 49
Reference ....................................................................................................................................... 51
List of Figures
Fig. 1-1 : Alternatives of system interconnections ............................................................................ 15
Fig. 4-1: Model of Turkish extra-high voltage transmission system ................................................. 37
Fig. 4-2: Mode shapes and participation factors concerning the generators angular......................... 39
Fig. 4-3: Inter area oscillation after 1200 MW power plant outage in Spain. ................................... 39
Fig. 4-4: Poor damping east-west inter area oscillation on 1/5/2005 ................................................ 40
Fig. 4-5: Mode shapes and participation factors concerning
shown as phasor diagram for the
EW-1 oscillation, scenario I............................................................................................................... 41
EW-3 oscillation, scenario I............................................................................................................... 42
Fig. 4-7: The structure of SVC controller using additional frequency signal. ................................... 45
List of Tables
Table 2-1: Benefits and risks of interconnection ............................................................................... 19
Table 3-1: Installed Capacity (in percent by type) in CEE Region ............................................. 27
Table 4-1: Dominant oscillations in the Turkish power system in isolated operation. ............. 38
Table 4-2: Dominant inter area oscillations in the enlarged ENTSO-E system for scenario I. 41
Table 4-3: Dominant inter area oscillations for scenario II. ........................................................ 42
Table 4-4: Dominant inter area oscillations for scenario III. ...................................................... 43
Introduction
Since its inception in the Industrial Age, the electrical grid has evolved from an insular
system that serviced a particular geographic area to a wider, expansive network that
incorporated multiple areas. With the realization of long distance power transmission it was
possible to interconnect different central stations to balance loads and improve load factors.
Interconnection became increasingly desirable as electrification grew rapidly in the early
years of the 20th century.
The phenomena of international interconnection are self-explanatory when considered in the
light of the varying density of electricity consumption throughout the world. The denser the
consumption, the denser the electricity networks, and thus the more it seems logical to set up
synchronous international interconnections - a simple matter of crossing the short distance
over borders to interconnect national networks. In fact, it is possible to evaluate to the
hundredth MWh per year and by km the density of consumption beyond which synchronous
interconnection becomes a viable solution. It is then certain that the cost of the international
line will be well below the benefits it provides. Of course, this essential technical-economic
parameter, the density of electricity consumption is nothing more than a direct reflection of
the level of economic development an area has attained.
This chapter focuses on benefits and obstacles/ risks of grid interconnections and the trend of
the world about it.
1.1 Benefits of Grid Interconnections

There are number of technical rationales for grid interconnections, many of which have economic
components as well. Technical rationales for grid interconnection include:
Improving reliability and pooling reserves: The amount of reserve capacity that must be
built by individual networks to ensure reliable operation when supplies are short can be
reduced by sharing reserves within an interconnected network.
Reduced investment in generating capacity: Individual systems can reduce their generating
capacity requirement, or postpone the need to add new capacity, if they are able to share the
generating resources of an interconnected system.
Improving load factor and increasing load diversity: Systems operate most economically
when the level of power demand is steady over time, as opposed to having high peaks. Poor
load factors (the ratio of average to peak power demand) mean that utilities must construct
generation capacity to meet peak requirements, but that this capacity sits idle much of the
time. Systems can improve poor load factors by interconnecting to other systems with
different types of loads, or loads with different daily or seasonal patterns that complement
their own.
Economies of scale in new construction: Unit costs of new generation and transmission
capacity generally decline with increasing scale, up to a point. Sharing resources in an
interconnected system can allow the construction of larger facilities with lower unit costs.
8
Diversity of generation mix and supply security: Interconnections between systems that use
different technologies and/or fuels to generate electricity provide greater security in the
event that one kind of generation becomes limited (e.g., hydroelectricity in a year with little
rainfall). Historically, this complementarily has been a strong incentive for interconnection
between hydro-dominated systems and thermal-dominated systems. A larger and more
diverse generation mix also implies more diversity in the types of forced outages that occur,
improving reliability.
Economic exchange: Interconnection allows the dispatch of the least costly generating units
within the interconnected area, providing an overall cost savings that can be divided among
the component systems. Alternatively, it allows inexpensive power from one system to be
sold to systems with more expensive power.
Environmental dispatch and new plant sitting: Interconnections can allow generating units
with lower environmental impacts to be used more, and units with higher impacts to be used
less. In areas where environmental and land use constraints limit the sitting of power plants,
interconnections can allow new plant construction in less sensitive areas.
Coordination of maintenance schedules: Interconnections permit planned outages of
generating and transmission facilities for maintenance to be coordinated so that overall cost
and reliability for the interconnected network is optimized.
Some costs and benefits of interconnections are difficult to quantify, but as a rough figure of merit
it has been estimated that interconnections in North America have resulted in an overall annual cost
savings of $20 billion in the 1990s, and that the Western European interconnection has resulted in
reduced capacity requirements of 7- 10 percent.
1.2 Complexities and Risks of Grid Interconnections

The fact that interconnections between power systems are increasingly common, does not imply
that they are as simple as connecting a few wires. Interconnections obviously entail the expense of
constructing and operating transmission lines and substations, or in the case of HVDC, converter
stations. Interconnections also entail other costs, technical complexities, and risks. To do this
requires a high degree of technical compatibility and operational coordination, which grows in cost
and complexity with the scale and inherent differences of the systems involved. To give just one
example, when systems are interconnected, even if they are otherwise fully compatible, fault
currents (the current that flows during a short circuit) generally increase, requiring the installation
of higher capacity circuit breakers to maintain safety and reliability. To properly specify these and
many other technical changes required by interconnection requires extensive planning studies,
computer modeling, and exchange of data between the interconnected systems.
The difficulties of joint planning and operation of interconnected systems vary widely. From the
institutional and administrative standpoint, coupled systems may become a single entity, or they
may keep entirely separate accounts. Within the North American interconnections, for example,
there are hundreds of electric utility companies that are entirely separate commercial entities.
Customers receive power from, and pay bills to, the utility that serves their area, for example
Consolidated Edison. They may do so without even knowing of the existence of the Eastern
9
interconnection. Yet all the utilities in the Eastern interconnection are in a technical marriage that
dictates or constrains key aspects of their technology choices and operating procedures.
Within countries, there are typically common technical standards for all utilities, which reduce the
complexity of interconnecting separate systems. In different countries, on the other hand, power
systems may have evolved quite separately, with very different standards and technologies, which
add an extra layer of technical complexity to interconnections. Institutional and administrative
features of power systems in different countries are also likely to differ in many ways, and these
differences invariably affect the technical and operational dimensions of an interconnection. Issues
ranging from power trading agreements to reliability standards, while expressed in technical terms,
often must be resolved within the realm of policy and political economy. As one expert on
international interconnections has remarked, many technical, organizational, commercial and
political problems have had to be solved to get large networks linked by international
interconnections to operate.
The greatest benefits of interconnection are usually derived from synchronous AC operation, but
this can also entail greater reliability risks. In any synchronous network, disturbances in one
location are quickly felt in other locations. After interconnecting, a system that used to be isolated
from disturbances in a neighboring system is now vulnerable to those disturbances. As major
blackouts in North America and Europe in 2003 demonstrated, large scale disturbances can
propagate through interconnections and result in cascading outages, bringing down systems that
had previously been functioning normally. In addition, long distance interconnections through long
transmission lines have potentially greater stability problems than is the case for shorter lines.
Finally, many systems that have undergone electricity liberalization in recent years have
experienced large increases in transmission capacity utilization, reducing reserve margins.
Minimizing the likelihood that an interconnection will lead to such problems as voltage collapse,
dynamic and transient instability, or cascading outages due to propagated disturbances requires
careful planning and well-coordinated operation.
1.3 Trends in Power Systems Interconnection

Trends for interconnection among developing regions, industrializing region, and industrialized
regions are different obviously. In this section, trends of each region are presented briefly.
v Developing Regions
In these regions, the density of consumption has only attained a significant level in certain highdensity urban zones. In these areas, electricity networks exist but are not interconnected with
neighboring networks. These areas are generally separated from each other by electricity desert
and the cost of interconnection is often too high. Most of the reasons listed above which justify the
development of interconnection are not present: the economic advantages of optimizing
investments or operating costs do not compensate the financial investment necessary to develop an
interconnection network nor does the improvement of the general safety of the system. Lastly, the
economic strain in the areas concerned does not encourage a proactive creation of an electricity
market.
10
The natural tendency in these regions is that general economic development is accompanied by a
progressive development of the network in terms of both density and surface area, and when the
moment is favorable, these networks are slowly interconnected to each other. This type of
development existed in Europe a century ago, and the progression continues to repeat itself
throughout many regions of the world.
There is, however, one good reason for creating international interconnections at this stage of
development. The governments in these areas often wish to set up proactive development policies
that include the enhancement of raw energy resources primarily hydroelectric potential and
accelerate the progressive development of the network. This requires long-distance transmission
lines to power consumption areas that are often very far from each other. The development strategy
must then include the development of long continuous current transmission lines.
Regardless of the type of ownership (public or private) of the transmission and generation
companies, governmental participation is usually high in network development policies.
Governments attempt to stimulate economic growth through general policies to develop large
infrastructures. These do not only concern electricity transmission networks but also for example,
road or rail networks.
v Industrializing Regions
The preceding scenario of a slow and progressive interconnection process does not correspond to
what is happening in the regions of the world that are undergoing rapid industrial development. In
these regions, the economic growth rate is high, and the need for electricity is also growing rapidly
(often by 7 to 10% per year). Furthermore, investment capacities in the economic sector are often
limited by all the different needs requiring satisfaction.
In these regions, all the criteria in favor of rapid of international interconnection development are
met:
The opportunity of optimizing investment costs in the face of rapidly growing demand;
The need to reduce operating costs in order to supply other industrial sectors with energy at a
cost that will not negatively impact their international competitiveness and that will support
the dynamics of industrialization;
Enhancing the safety of the electricity system which is vital to economies that are very
dependent upon the efficiency of their electricity sector.
This rapid growth is often accompanied by the establishment of an electricity market. From the
point of view of investments alone, the use of a market system allows new investors to enter and
provide appropriate means of satisfying investment needs for short-term demand growth. These
countries reinforce their development through participation on international markets, and the same
is true for electricity exchanges. This is yet another reason in favor of the development of
international interconnections.
11
This general type of framework corresponds to interconnections in South East Asia, although the
varying economic development of the countries in this region and the last economic crisis make the
real situation more complex.
v Industrialized Regions
In these countries, growth in the demand for electricity has generally slowed (in general, to around
0 to 2% per year) and changes to the interior transmission network of each country occur more
slowly. In such regions, international interconnections were developed in the past to benefit from
economies of scale through production systems comprising high power plants. In addition to
improving the safety of the electricity systems, the main drive for developing international
interconnections is the search for optimum efficiency on the electricity markets.
The lack of infrastructures or their limitations, in this case, are considered as a barrier to exchange.
Aside from technical difficulties, there appear to be two main obstacles to further development.
One is that populations do not easily accept the creation of transmission lines when their energy
needs are already covered in a generally satisfying manner. Secondly, the volatile nature of
exchange rates and prices dissuade the companies in charge of transmission from investing in
expensive projects whose profitability is only achieved over a long period of time. Therefore, these
companies initially try to rely upon existing interconnections to cover market demands. This
generally leads to modifications in operational organization on an international level. This general
framework corresponds to Europe today. Basic Technical Considerations
The basic design features of an interconnection include the following elements:
whether it is AC or DC
if DC, whether it is single-pole or double-pole (+/-)
transmission capacity (in MVA)
transmission voltage (in kV)
system components and overall design
operating agreement
These features are dictated by the answers to the following questions:
Will the interconnected systems operate synchronously or asynchronously? To operate
synchronously, at a minimum the systems must have the same nominal frequency (50 Hz or
60 Hz). Even if frequencies are the same, technical and operational differences can make
synchronous operation too difficult or expensive to pursue. Many synchronous networks
with the same nominal frequency, including the four North American interconnections,
have only asynchronous DC connections between them.
What are the magnitudes and directions of the anticipated power flows? The basic rationales
for the interconnection must be expressed quantitatively, using models that forecast the
power flows through the interconnection among constituent systems. The forecasts must be
conducted on different time scales: diurnal, seasonal, annual, and multi-year projections.
What physical distance and terrain will the interconnection span? The peak power flows and
the physical length of the interconnection will influence the choice of AC or DC, the size of
12
conductors, and requirements for other system components, such as series capacitors or
phase-shifting transformers. Terrain, geology, and land use considerations (such as urban
areas, environmentally sensitive areas) will determine whether overhead lines or
underground cables are used, the layout and design of substations or converter stations,
grounding and lightning protection schemes, and the most suitable kinds of support
structures. Undersea transmission requires the use of special cables that are quite different
from terrestrial cables and overhead lines. Terrain and land use also dictate construction and
maintenance methods.
What are the key technical and operating differences among the systems to be
interconnected? These include differences in the hardware, control systems, and procedures
used for frequency regulation, voltage regulation, and fault protection.
1.4 Technological Opportunities

1.4.1 Interconnection Alternative
The transmission of electric energy in direct current has certain advantages compared to alternative
current transmission and certain disadvantages. The cost of overhead transmission cables or
underground transmission lines is significantly less in direct current than alternative current
because direct current transmission requires less equipment (conductors, towers for overhead lines,
insulation). The cost ratio between direct and alternative current is about is about 2/3 for overhead
cables and 1/2 for underground lines.
However, a direct current connection is almost always used to unite networks, and production
means that use alternative current. These connections have two direct/alternative conversion
stations at their extremities. Despite recent progress in power electronics used in these stations,
they remain very expensive and their cost has a direct impact on the complete cost of the
connection regardless of its length. It is easy to imagine therefore, that there is an economic balance
between the two transmission methods. Depending on the cost of the conversion station, this
distance is between 400 and 1000 km for overhead lines and 100 to 150 km for underground
cables.
Furthermore, a major drawback to direct current connections is that it is difficult to use them to
collect and distribute energy along their paths. Multi-terminal links can sometimes be used in
specific cases where there are a few injection and output points.
In terms of network operation, a direct current line is fairly rigid and its characteristics do not
depend on distance. This aspect, once again, has its good and bad points. On the one hand, an
alternative current connection that surpasses a certain distance requires that compensation stations
be built, which are not necessary for direct current connections. On the other hand, a direct current
connection at the heart of an alternative system does not provide the same advantages as an
alternative connection in terms of synchronization or the possibility of immediate overload. It does
however, provide additional supervision possibilities that improve the stability of the alternative
transmission network or make it easier to take advantage of its full potential.
13
In conclusion to this comparison, it should be pointed out that for equivalent transmission
characteristics, a direct current line has 2 conductors instead of 3 which makes the direct current
overhead line less cumbersome and more elongated than the alternative current lines.
The possibilities for enhancement of complex interconnected power systems to decrease the
probability of large blackouts and to enable an increasing power exchange among the different
systems inside the large interconnected network are:
The simplest way is to build new additional AC lines between some of the subsystems to
strengthen the interconnection. However, this method would be only a provisional solution
as congestion and bottlenecks can occur after local outages or due to changing requirements
for power transmission routes to other locations. An example for such problems is existed in
the ENTSO-E system reference.
Building a new, superposed higher AC voltage level as backbone which enables an
essential increase of power flows among the subsystems. This solution is, however, not
possible in high density populated areas due to right of way limitations and environmental
restrictions. In some developing countries where the networks are still isolated or
underdeveloped this is, however, the preferable solution.
The use of HVDC back-to-back schemes instead of, or in addition to a weak AC
interconnection between the subsystems. Advantage of this solution compared to the
additional AC lines is that no additional technical problems can be expected as the HVDC
does not depend on the technical parameters of the subsystems. Fast control of the HVDC
further enables control of load flow and, if needed, active damping of power oscillations.
The same problems can also be solved at least partly by the implementation of series and/or
parallel FACTS equipment in the interconnections.
Use of HVDC long distance transmission, integrated into the system to transmit power
between power generation and load centers directly point to point. Possible additional
bottlenecks inside the AC systems, resulting from the increased transmitted power, can so
be avoided. The HVDC transmission further offers the ability to damp power oscillations
and to improve the system stability. The need for right of way at HVDC is much smaller
than for equivalent AC transmission and can therefore be realized much easier. The right of
way for a 500 kV DC line is e. g. less than half for a 400 kV double line. A number of
such HVDC applications, integrated into the synchronous AC system have been already
realized or are on the way in different countries, e.g. China, India, USA, and Japan.
There are basically three possibilities to interconnect the power systems, Fig. 1-1:
synchronous interconnection (AC Solution)
asynchronous interconnection using HVDC (DC Solution)
HVDC back-to-back (without DC Line)
HVDC long distance transmission with DC line
hybrid synchronous interconnection (Hybrid Solution)
14
Fig. 1-1 : Alternatives of system interconnections
The most frequently used, and seemingly most natural, interconnection within a country is the AC
interconnection.
The HVDC interconnection provides several advantages. With the HVDC interconnection, an easy
staging is possible (one link is already stable), whereas the AC interconnection must be strong from
the beginning for the stability reasons (many lines in parallel), even if the demand on the power
exchange were significantly smaller than the sum of the transmission lines capacity. The systems to
be connected can be kept asynchronous operation. Hence, there will be not transient stability and
dynamic stability problems between the interconnected systems.
The hybrid solution is the preferred solution in the countries with the strongly growing networks
due to the high energy demand, e.g., in Brazil (from Itaipu to Sao Paulo) and in China. The Hybrid
Solution offers specific control functions to stabilize the parallel AC links such as power oscillation
damping for inter area oscillations and voltage control.
1.4.2 FACTS and Transit Regulations
For years, efforts have been made to improve transmission management, in order to unburden lines
that are nearing their total capacity while other lines have low loads. To improve this situation,
devices (i.e. transformers and phase shifters) were used to modify the electric characteristics of the
lines. However, these devices were not very rapid and very flexible and therefore were sometimes
problematic.
Progress in power electronics has made it possible to develop more FACTS that are easier and
faster to use to modify the parameters that control network flows. Although they are still more
expensive than traditional devices, decreased component costs, the additional functions they
provide (for example voltage control) and their flexibility of use will certainly cause them to be
used in a more widespread manner on transmission networks in the coming years. The use of these
devices within the framework of the development of international connections as well as to support
an active open electricity market has been under discussion for a number of years. The economic
feasibility of these devices becomes obvious in cases where structural adaptations to the networks
15
progress more slowly than transmission needs. The fact remains however, that flow management
devices may continued to be used on a long-term basis if, as is often the case, transmission
companies have problems restructuring flows through the development of new transport means that
are better adapted to changes in generation sets.
1.4.3 Changes in Generating Sets
One must then envisage the influence of changes in generation techniques on networks in general
and more specifically on international interconnections. It may sound trivial to say that
interconnected systems are of economic interest only because they enable economies of scale. Until
recently, economies of scale were made thanks to the size of the generating units and not because
of a reduction in the cost of the units due to a serial effect. Today, this trend may be reversed by
new means of power generation.
If this economic trend is confirmed on the long-term, the transmission network will partly lose its
role as a means transmitting massive quantities of energy between the generation plants and the
consumers.
16
Different Aspect of Grids Interconnection

2.1 The Evolution of Interconnected Systems
Electricity grid interconnections have played a key role in the history of electric power systems.
Most national and regional power systems that exist today began many decades ago as isolated
systems, often as a single generator in a large city. As power systems expanded out from their
urban cores, interconnections among neighboring systems became increasingly common. Groups of
utilities began to form power pools, allowing them to trade electricity and share capacity reserves.
The first international interconnections in Europe came in 1906, when Switzerland built
transmission links to France and Italy. The first power pool in the United States was formed in the
Connecticut Valley in 1925. As transmission technologies improved, long distance
interconnections developed, sometimes crossing national borders.
One of the great engineering achievements of the last century has been the evolution of large
synchronous alternating current (AC) power grids, in which all the interconnected systems maintain
the same precise electrical frequency. Today, the North American power system is composed of
four giant synchronous systems, namely the Eastern, Western, Texas, and Quebec interconnections.
The Eastern interconnection by itself has been called the largest machine in the world, consisting of
thousands of generators, millions of kilometers of transmission and distribution lines, and more
than a billion different electrical loads. Despite this complexity, the network operates in
synchronism as a single system. So does the Western European interconnection, which reaches
from the UK and Scandinavia to Italy and Greece, embracing along the way much of Eastern
Europe (for example, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic). Synchronous
interconnections among countries are expanding in Central and South America, North and SubSaharan Africa, and the Middle East.
At the same time that synchronous AC networks have reached the continental scale, the use of high
voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnections is also rapidly expanding as a result of technical
progress over the last two decades. HVDC permits the asynchronous interconnection of networks
that operate at different frequencies, or are otherwise incompatible, allowing them to exchange
power without requiring the tight coordination of a synchronous network. HVDC has other
advantages as well, especially for transmitting large amounts of power over very long distances.
2.2 Economic and Financial Impacts

The primary reason for developing an electricity grid interconnection between countries is to
reduce the overall combined economic costs of supplying electricity services in the interconnected
countries. Grid interconnections may offer both direct and indirect economic and financial costs
and benefits. There are avoided following costs:
Cost for the fuels used in electricity generation;
Capital costs of the generation facilities;
Operating costs of the generating facilities;
Operating costs for any transmission facilities.
17
The indirect costs and benefits of an interconnection can include:

Stimulation of the national economy;
Stimulation of the local economies through the labor employment needed for construction
of the interconnection power lines and the power plants which will feed it;
The labor needed to operate the interconnection (and associated power plants) on an
ongoing basis.
Other potential indirect economic benefits of an interconnection include the impacts of improved
power supplies in fostering development of local industry. Given the need for contracting and/or
for market arrangements in the selling of power, the economic and financial costs and benefits of
interconnections sometimes interact with political issues between jurisdictions.
2.3 Legal and Political Impacts

The international electricity grid interconnections can be very complex legal undertakings, except
perhaps in their very simplest form. International power grid interconnections can offer the political
benefits to the countries participating in the power trading, as well as to individuals and companies
within the trading countries. Grid interconnections have the potential to encourage the
democratization. If the process of planning a grid interconnection(s) proceeds in a transparent and
inclusive manner, with the (typically) many different constituencies affected by the interconnection
project receiving sufficient opportunity to provide input into the planning process, the result may
help spur the democratization. Another way that the grid interconnections may promote the
democratization is through their effects on the power supplies. In addition to providing lighting to
learn by, the grid interconnections, in the way that they help bring electricity to underserved
regions, may enhance the political stability. This is due to offering opportunities for the
employment, education, and medical care in the areas where there is a lack of these necessities.
Increasing the standard of living of populations, especially the rural or suburban populations,
through electricity provision helps to slow the migration to the urban centers, alleviate poverty.
Thus, it mitigates the political difficulties and social tensions involved in providing for the urban
poor.
2.4 Energy Security

International grid interconnections may also become political liabilities to one or more of the host
countries. One justification often noted for the international electricity grid interconnection is that
they can improve energy security within the interconnected countries, depending on how they are
configured. Energy Security has typically meant mostly securing access to the oil and other fossil
fuels. To take account of these concepts, a new definition of energy security can be offerd as
follows:
A nation-state is energy secure to the degree that the fuel and energy services are available to
ensure:
a. Survival of the nation;
b. Protection of national welfare;
c. Minimization the risks associated with the supply and use of fuel and energy services.
18
Energy security has five different dimensions such as economic, technological, environmental,
social/ cultural, and military/security. The international electricity grid interconnections can have
impacts in each of the dimensions. Table 2-1 provides just a few examples of how the grid
interconnections might provide benefits and incur costs or risks, in each of the dimensions
described.
Table 2-1: Benefits and risks of interconnection
Dimension of Energy Security
Interconnection Benefits
Energy Supply
improved electricity supply

diversification of energy supply
sources
diversification in fuel imports
improved reliability of electricity
supply
Interconnection Risks
Economic
lower cost of fuel, capital

expenditures for importing country
earning from power sales through
interconnection
indirect economic benefits of less
expensive, more reliable electricity
cost savings through substitution of
electricity for other fuels
improvement in power quality
exposure to new technologies can

be replicated to improve power
system
economic interdependence
Technological
reliance on proven technologies for

generation and transmission
19
higher energy imports and increased

import dependence
dependence on reliability in the
interconnected system
obligation to export resources
additional costs of infrastructure for

interconnection
additional costs for generation and
other infrastructure in exporting
nation
foreign exchange outlays and
indebtedness for infrastructure
investments
exposure to energy price volatility on
international markets and/or to terms
of locked-in contracts
economic interdependence
exposure to risk from poor power

quality in interconnected nations
exposure to risk from use of new
technologies
risk of being obligated to continue

use of an older technology as newer,
cheaper and more flexible
technologies available
2.5 Technical Issues Associated with AC Grid Interconnection

2.5.1 General Requirements
AC interconnection usually provides the greatest interconnection benefits, except in certain cases
for which DC is the preferred option. At a general level, the first requirement is that the systems
share the same nominal frequency, either 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Then, they must regulate frequency so
that they achieve and remain in synchronism. They must also interconnect at a common voltage
level.
Good engineering must be complemented by good cooperation among the interconnected systems.
In both planning and operation phases, this requires extensive data sharing, joint modeling, and
clear communication.
2.5.2 Transmission Issues
Thermal Limits
The capacity of transmission lines, transformers, and other equipment is determined by
temperature limits. If these limits are exceeded, the equipment can be damaged or
destroyed.
Stability Limits
The stability limit of a transmission line is the maximum amount of power that can be
transmitted for which the system will remain synchronized if a disturbance occurs.
In general, stability limits are more important than thermal limits for long transmission
lines, while thermal limits are more important for shorter lines. In the United States, for
example, thermal limits are more important in the eastern interconnection, while stability
limits play a larger role in the western interconnection.
Voltage Regulation
Utilities generally maintain system voltages within 5-10 percent of nominal values in
order to avoid the risk of voltage collapse, which can lead to a major interruption of
service.
Loop and Parallel Path Flows

In power systems, power flows do not necessarily follow a specified transmission path and
divide themselves among various connected transmission paths according to the voltage
levels and impedances of the path. To put it another way, power flows conform to physical
laws rather than economic agreements. In some cases, a power transaction can take quite
unwanted paths, resulting in line losses and possibly overloading lines of neighbors having
nothing to do economically with the transaction. In general, these phenomena are referred
to as circulating power, loop flows, and parallel path flows.
20
Available Transmission Capacity (ATC)

An important measure of transmission capacity is transmission transfer capability (TTC),
which is the maximum power flow that a line can accommodate at any given time and still
be able to survive the loss of a major generator or transmission link elsewhere in the
system. Available transmission capacity (ATC) is TTC of a line minus the amount of
capacity already committed to other uses on that line. ATC is thus the measure of how
much power can be safely transmitted over a transmission line at a given time while
ensuring overall system reliability.
Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS)

Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) refers to a number of different technologies
based on power electronics and advanced control technologies, which are used to optimize
power flows and increase grid stability. FACTS equipment is expensive, but it can pay for
itself by directing power flows with precision, eliminating loop flows, and relieving
transmission bottlenecks without requiring that new lines be built. It can also improve
frequency and voltage stability, decrease transmission losses and voltage drops, and
improve power quality. FACTS equipments include static compensators, static VAR
compensators, thyristor-controlled series capacitors, phase-shifting transformers,
interphase power controllers, universal power flow controllers, and dynamic voltage
restorers.
Transmission Upgrades
If existing transmission facilities are to be used in the interconnection but are not adequate
to transmit the expected volume of power, they can be upgraded either by adding
additional lines in parallel or increasing the transmission voltage. If these options are not
available, FACTS or HVDC solutions can be explored.
2.5.3 Systems Issues
Key technical systems issues that must be addressed in planning and implementing a grid
interconnection include frequency regulation, coordination of operations, interconnections of power
systems with weak grids, and aspects of interconnection that are associated with electricity market
liberalization.
Frequency Regulation
Controlling frequency in a synchronous network is ultimately an issue of precisely
matching generation to load. This load-matching occurs on several time scales. System
planners and operators plan generation from hours to months in advance, coordinating the
dispatch of generating units and power exchanges with other systems based on factors
such as historical load patterns, weather predictions, maintenance schedules, and
unplanned outages. At the scale of minutes to seconds, frequency is maintained by
Automatic Generator Control (AGC), which precisely controls the real and reactive power
output of certain generators that are able to respond rapidly to changes in load.
21
Hydroelectric and gas turbine units are generally used for regulation and load following;
nuclear plants and large coal-fired plants can be damaged by rapid changes of output and
are not used in this function.
Coordinating Operations
The basic geographical unit of a power system is the control area, which typically has a
single control center responsible for monitoring system conditions and scheduling the
dispatch of all generation. In interconnected systems, transmission lines to neighboring
control areas are metered and the incoming and outgoing power flows are scheduled and
continuously monitored. A continuous record of the balance of load, generation, and
exchanges with other control areas called the Area Control Error (ACE) is used to plan
real time corrections to maintain load-generation balance. Interconnections create a
number of coordination challenges, both institutional and technical. For example,
reliability standards and constraints may differ, and there may be differences in regulation
and control schemes and technologies. It is important for the operators and planners of
interconnected systems to be aware of the conditions and practices in their neighboring
control areas. Good communication between different system operators is important for
agreeing on and coordinating interchange schedules, transmission loading, maintenance
schedules, procedures for fault clearing, and emergency protocols.
Interconnection of Power Systems with Weak Grids

Not all interconnections take place between power systems in top technical condition. In
the developing world, many power systems bear the marks of age, poor repair, and
insufficient investment. Equipment is often obsolete, and operations that are automated
elsewhere may be carried out manually. Systems in poor repair generally perform poorly,
have serious reliability problems, and often fail to comply with safety or environmental
standards.
Interconnection can improve such systems, by providing emergency reserves and more
reliable supplies. However, careful planning must ensure that the interconnection does not
lead to additional stresses elsewhere in the interconnected system.
2.6 Technical Issues Related to DC Interconnections

2.6.1 Why Use HVDC?
The first commercial use of modern HVDC transmission was in Sweden in 1954. It has been since
the 1980s, however, when high voltage solid state converters were developed to replace mercury
arc converters that the use of HVDC transmission in interconnection projects has taken off. While
still expensive, costs of converter stations have been steadily falling, and HVDC must be
considered as an option for many interconnection projects. HVDC is used in interconnection
projects in three principal applications:
1. Transmitting large amounts of power over very long distances.
2. Transmitting power under water.
22
3. Asynchronous interconnections.
In addition to the three applications above, there are other reasons HVDC interconnections are
used. A key one is that HVDC carries more power for a given conductor size. Because of this, in
situations where existing transmission capacity is constrained, HVDC is an alternative to an AC
transmission upgrade. Conversely, to provide a given transmission capacity, HVDC lines, towers,
and rights-of-way can be smaller than a comparable AC system, reducing the lines environmental
footprint. Another major advantage is that the solid-state controls of HVDC systems offer complete
control over the direction of power flow, without unpredictable loop flows. The direction of flow
can be reversed, and operating voltages can be reduced if necessary. The track record of HVDC
indicates high reliability and availability, and the advantage that in a bipolar system one pole can
operate if the other pole is not operational due to maintenance or an outage. Also, HVDC does not
increase fault currents in the network it is connected to, so new circuit breakers not required in the
rest of the system. HVDC systems, however, are difficult to operate with more than two, or at most
three, terminal connections to AC transmission systems, so that HVDC systems are not an optimal
choice if power is to be supplied to several intermediate locations along a power line route.
2.6.2 Technical Considerations HVDC Systems
Components of an HVDC System

Choice of Converter Technology
Reactive Power Consumption
Harmonics
Operation and Maintenance
23
The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection: CEE

and ENTSO-E
3.1 Introduction
Central Eastern Europe (CEE) was a cooperative group of some electricity transmission systems
operators located in the formerly Soviet-held regions of Eastern Europe. The four companies
were CEPS (Czech Republic), MAVIR ZRt (Hungary), PSE-Operator S.A. (Poland), and SEPS
(Slovak Republic). It was a partnership that became necessary after the political upheaval that
took place in the late 1980s in that region, which separated these countries from Soviet control.
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary which are geographically close to the west
European power system of Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity (ENTSOE) have been connected their networks with this power system in 1991. Owing to the different
operating modes, control concepts and technical standards, it was not possible to proceed
immediately to a synchronous interconnection of the power systems. The coordination and
implementation of technical and organizational adaptations as well as energy related measures
were necessary to satisfy the security standard of supply.
As a first step, the EHV networks of East Germany and Berlin were disconnected from east
European IPS/UPS network in September 1995 and interconnected with the West German
power system. One month later, the synchronous parallel operation was started by way of trial
between the west European interconnected system of ENTSO-E and the networks of the
interconnected power companies in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
This chapter describes the various aspects of synchronous interconnected operation of the
ENTSO-E and CEE power system.
3.2 Historical Background of Development of CEE and Interconnection

with ENTSO-E
The Polish, Czech, Slovakian, and Hungarian power systems are located at the border of the two
large European power systems, the ENTSO-E and the former CDO-IPS1. Prior to the early
1990's, they were operating in parallel with the CDO-IPS via interconnections with Ukraine,
Romania and Serbia. Interconnections with ENTSO-E were via DC lines to Germany, Austria or
via normally open ac lines. The Polish and Czech power systems were also interconnected via ac
lines to the East Germany (German Democratic Republic) power system.
The CDO-IPS (Central Dispatching Organization of the Interconnected Power System) was
founded in 1962 in order to improve the cooperation among the COMECON countries of the
continent. The governments of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, and the Soviet Union established a central dispatching office in Prague. From 1962 to
Central Dispatching Organization of the Interconnected Power System (CDO-IPS) is the interconnected power
systems of the former COMECON countries with the Central Dispatch Office -CDO-in Prague
24
1978 only the power system of western Ukraine of the Soviet Union worked in parallel with the
COMECON countries. From 1978, after the installation of the Soviet Union-Hungary 750 kV
line, the whole Ukrainian and the European region of the Soviet Union took part in the
cooperation. In the mid 1980s, the Soviet Union to Poland and Soviet Union to Romania 750 kV
lines were built and the technical possibility of 5000 MW import from the Soviet Union to the
CDO member countries was established. The installed capacity of the CDO-IPS system was
175500 MW in 1990.
One of the specific problems of the CDO-IPS operation was related to the fairly high one-way
power delivery planned from the power system of the former Soviet Union to the other power
systems. The transmission capacity was not adequate to support the high transfers and
periodically large scale load shedding was required following an outage on the transmission
system.
After the political changes in late 1980s and 1990s, the members of CDO changed, with Russia
and Ukraine becoming members of CDO and the Czech Republic and Slovak becoming
individual members following the split of Czechoslovakia.
Following operational problems, fuel shortages in Ukraine, need to reduce dependence on the
Russian imports, and improve power quality, the CDO-IPS was broken up into three
subsystems, and the connection with Russia was cut off. The subsystem consisting of 7 power
systems (VEAG (Germany), Poland, Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian, Romanian and West
Ukrainian) operated without power frequency control. In 1994, Romania switched to parallel
operation with Yugoslav and Greek systems. In May 1994, the VEAG, Polish, Czech, and
Slovakian power system joined later by Hungary switched on primary frequency control thereby
improving system frequency behavior.
Following the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the collapse of COMECON, the power
systems of Hungary, Poland, Czech and Slovak Republics announced in 1990 - 1991 their
intention to join ENTSO-E. To discuss these questions, ENTSO-E formed a committee of
general managers of the ENTSO-E power companies neighboring the four power systems. This
committee, together with the general managers for the Polish, Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian
power companies, formulated a catalog of measures, Massnahmenkatalog, in 1992. The
catalog of measures included technical, economical, and organizational aspects. The seven
ENTSO-E representatives together with the four CEE companies formed the group of 11.
It was assumed that if the requirements of the catalog of measures are fulfilled, trial parallel
operation with ENTSO-E could be realized. During the preparation, the cooperation of the four
power companies became more intense and the cooperation extended beyond the ENTSO-E
interconnection to other fields such as economics, operation, trade, and development. On
October 11, 1992, the four companies institutionalized this cooperation and formed CEE.
CEE is a regional group of four electric power companies from the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland and the Slovak Republic.
In addition to the four members, the following organizations have observer status:
VEAG, Germany
25
Verbund, Austria
Ministry of Energy and Electronics, Ukraine
RENEL, Romania
NEK, Bulgaria
The close cooperation among the four CEE members started much earlier when the leading
power companies from four of, as it was known at that time, the Vysehrad Group countries,
initiated the process of conforming to the standards binding the Union for the Coordination of
Production and Transmission of Electricity (ENTSO-E). Because of their location, CEE
systems will have a key role in the further development of the European interconnection towards
the south, the south-east (Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece), the east (Ukraine,
Russia, Belorussia), and the north-east (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia).
The activities of CEE are carried out by permanent and ad hoc working groups established by
the council of CEE. The working groups are:
Interconnection Working Group (IWG)

System Operation Working Group (SWG)
Organization Working Group (OWG)
Economy Working Group (EWG)
Development Working Group (DWG)
In order to permit parallel operation with ENTSO-E, the CEE members undertook many
extensive and expensive changes to their power systems to meet the catalog of measures and
supplementary requirements concerning, among others, the installation of power system
stabilizers (PSSs).
From November 1993 to 13 September 1995, the CDO-IPS/UPS system operated separately as
three autonomous operating subsystems.
On 13 September 1995, after the ENTSO-E interconnection of VEAG, the CEE system began
their autonomous operation. During this period, four planned outages took place, one in each
CEE system of between 200 - 300 MW each both generation and consumption. The system
performance was monitored continuously during the two week period and the results showed
satisfactory performance of the system.
The test results indicated satisfactory performance. The ENTSO-E-CEE technical group met on
13 October 1995, and evaluated the test results. They approved the results and recommended
that trial parallel operation begin on 18 October. From that time CEE systems operate in parallel
with ENTSO-E through VEAG and BAG, and subsequently with additional interconnections to
Austria.
26
3.3
The Power Systems of the CEE Countries

3.3.1 Generation Types in CEE
The installed capacity by types of generation in the CEE countries is shown in Table 3-1.
Table 3-1: Installed Capacity (in percent by type) in CEE Region
CEE
CEZ
SE
PSE MVM
Thermal
71
64
41.9
84
Nuclear
16
13
24.7
Hydro
13
10
33.4
Industrial
13
74.4
24.9
0.7
10
3.3.2 Transmission Systems of CEE Countries
The CEZ Transmission System

The CEZ transmission system consists of 400 kV and 220 kV grid including 31 substations,
2860 km of 400 kV and 1555 km of 220 kV transmission lines.
MVM Transmission System

The power transmission network in Hungary consists of 268 km of 750 kV, 1574 km of 400
kV, 1244 km of 230 kV lines. In addition, 130 km of the 120 kV lines are considered part of
the main transmission grid.
PSE Transmission System

The power transmission system in PSE consists of 114 km of 750 kV, 4522 km of 400 kV,
7884 km of 220 kV and 27 km of 110 kV lines. There are 1 - 750 kV, 26 - 400 kV, and 62 220 kV substations of which 1, 16, 14 and 0 substations respectively are owned by PSE.
SE Transmission System
The SE transmission system consists of 1519 km of 400 kV and 964 km of 220 kV lines.
3.3.3 Energy Accounting and Control Center
The Energy Accounting and Control Center (EACC) is located in Warsaw at PSE and is
responsible for:
Control of power exchange between CEE and ENTSO-E

27
Accounting and offsetting unintentional deviations within CEE

Accounting and offsetting of unintentional deviations between CEE and ENTSO-E
3.3.4 Interconnections between CEE and ENTSO-E
The tie lines between CEE and ENTSO-E are:
From PSE to VEAG/Bewag, Germany

Krajnik to Vierraden
220 kV
Mikulowa to Hagenwerder
220 kV
Mikulowa to Kiesdorf
330 kV
From CEZ to VEAG/Bewag, Germany

Hradec to Rohrsdorf
330 kV
Hradec to Zwonitz
220 kV
From CEZ to Bayenwerk, Germany

Hradec to Etzenncht
From SE to OVG, Austria

Slavetice to Durnrohr
330 kV
330 kV
From MVM to OVG, Austria

Gyor to Wien-Sudost
330 kV
3.4 Analysis of the ENTSO-E/CEE Power System

3.4.1 Stability of Power Systems
To assess the stability behavior after large scale extensions of the interconnected power system,
it is necessary to proceed a global consideration including the total interconnected power system
and the candidate subsystem as well as adequate modeling to carry out dynamic calculations.
The connection of further subsystems to the ENTSO-E power system gives reason to examine
where the stability of the extended inter-connected system will be maintained in the case of
28
different load flow scenarios like winter pick load and summer low load or in the event of
additional power exchanges between the subsystems.
3.4.2 Event Calling Forth Possible Instabilities
The following system disturbances must be considered to investigate the system behavior:
Three phase short circuits: on interconnecting lines between ENTSO-E and CEN-TREL and
on the selected interconnecting lines and busbars in the CEE network with a view to
determining the maximum admissible fault clearing time as an essential criterion for the
assessment of transient stability.
Excitation of oscillations: Sinusoidal disturbances of variable frequency were incited at the
voltage controller inputs of power station generators of almost equal output in the CEE
networks. This enabled oscillation modes of the total system to be determined and
conclusions to be obtained on the damping behavior.
Power plant tripping: The impact of power plant tripping in the ENTSO-E network and in
the CEE network has been investigated.
3.4.3 Evaluation of Inter Area Oscillations in ENTSO-E-CEE Power System
v Wide Area Measuring System

More than thirty devices for recording frequency and power flows at the individual locations are
installed in 220 kV and 400 kV order to show all recordings using the same time reference. A lot
of recordings of inter area oscillations were collected from WAMS, which are mostly excited by
power plant outages or failures in the 220 kV or 400 kV voltage levels of the transmission grid.
The frequency of the observed inter area oscillations is in the range from 0.22 to 0.26 Hz and in
most cases the damping is sufficient. In some cases, however, only poor damping was detected,
which has to be observed with regard to reliable system operation.
v Influence of Global Load Flow on System Damping
At certain times at which inter area oscillations were recorded by WAMS the power exchanges
between countries were analyzed with regard to the relation of damping of inter area oscillation
and the global load flow situation. Though only few cases with poor system damping occurred,
their analysis indicate that power export from the most outer areas decreases damping of inter
area oscillations, what was predicted from previous simulation studies.
v Prony Analysis of the WAMS Recordings
Prony analysis is a methodology that extends Fourier analysis by directly estimating the
frequency, damping, strength, and relative phase of the modal components present in any signal.
The method decomposes the signal into its dominant modes of oscillation. The method provides
29
complex eigenvalues and the associated eigenvector components. Real and imaginary parts of
eigenvalues are proportional to the modes damping and frequency, respectively.
v Inter Area Modes in the ENTSO-E/CEE System
From the beginning of the interconnection of ENTSO-E and CEE, low frequency, poorly
damped inter area oscillations started to be observable in the connected systems. There is a fear
confirmed by stability studies that these oscillations in certain system conditions could restrict
planned power exchange in the connected systems.
3.5 The interaction of Synchronization with Electricity Market

The dream of an "Electricity market from Lisbon to Vladivostok" may need time changed the
energy strategy and also policies in European Union. So, each member of ENTSO-E must be
applied the strategy and policy in energy and electricity sectors in its country and CEE as a
part of ENTSO-E must be preformed their electricity markets in accordance to the EU energy
and electricity policy.
In this section, at first, the energy strategy and plan, energy policy, electricity market, and
energy infrastructures of European Union are described and then, the interaction of
interconnection with ENTSO-E on electricity market and energy policy of CEE countries are
presented.
3.5.1 Strategic Plan of EU

In developing the best strategy for the coming years and the time of transition described
above, ENTSO-Es members were led by the realization that TSOs need to shape the change
which the energy industry is undergoing. For example, the changes in resource mix, smart
grids and customer empowerment present enormous opportunities and risks for the system
and for society, and TSOs need to contribute their expertise towards policy makers many
necessary decisions and adjustments of market design, security of supply, viability of the
energy mix, competitiveness and sustainability. Stakeholder feedback which ENTSO-E
sought and received also points in the direction of taking a clear European perspective, being
more active in explaining identified areas for improvement to the public, and taking a leading
role in coordinating the implementation of adjustments which have been decided.
3.5.2 Energy Policy

The 21st century is characterized by a new energy area. The dispute over the price of gas
supplying Ukraine from Russia triggered the discussion over the security of supply and
30
Europes potential to face new energy challenges. Thus, in the 2006, energy back to political
agenda with underlining demand for a new energy policy for Europe. To reflect on this the
European Commission published in March 2006 a Green Paper outlining an approach to
achieve the aim of sustainable, secure and affordable energy supplies. The paper calls for a
single European grid; a European grid code to be worked out by a European Centre of
Energy Networks.
In a response to the discussion launched by the Green Paper, the Commission tabled on 10
January 2007 a comprehensive package of measures to establish a new Energy Policy for
Europe to combat climate change and boost the EUs energy security and competitiveness.
To achieve this objective, the Commission proposes to focus on a number of energy related
measures: 1) improving energy efficiency, 2) raising the share of renewable energy in the
energy mix, as well as new measures to ensure that the benefits of the internal energy market
reach everyone, 3) reinforcing solidarity among Member States, with a more long term vision
for energy technology development, 4) a renewed focus on nuclear safety and security, and
determined efforts for the EU to speak with one voice with its international partners,
including energy producers, energy importers and developing countries.
3.5.3 EU Internal Electricity Market

The process of liberalization has progressed, but is still ongoing and swift progress is needed
towards a fully competitive pan-European electricity market. The Commission in its regular
progress report concluded that with the adoption of the 2nd Electricity and Gas Directives the
basic framework for the development of a real internal market is in place but that further
progress is needed to ensure effective implementation in all Member States. However, the
Commission does not exclude new EU legislation for the electricity sector, but proposed
some possible options for the further development of markets on one year ago, as a part of the
Energy Package.
Fundamentally, the construction of the EU internal market requires that strong focus be put
on ensuring sufficient harmonization of the existing markets. An acceleration of the move
from national structures to a pan-European market is needed. In this respect, all key players
support ERGEGs regional initiative aimed at progressing on regional market integration but
it is essential that an ambitious agenda and timetable for this integration be set and that the
European Commission gets more involved in order to provide a real European perspective to
the process.
To ensure a real regional/ European development of the market and of the grid, further
31
cooperation of TSOs (and Regulators) is fundamentally needed. It should be essential to

ensure that these act as one and that effective regional grid planning processes be developed
everywhere in the EU. Further progress towards more cooperation between TSOs and a more
regional mindset in the development of the grid is foreseen in the course of 2007.
The main objective of the market activities will be to ensure the follow up of the network
codes while the adoption process is being finalized and to focus on the implementation of the
codes to establish proposals for pan-EU elements and to coordinate developments on regional
processes. Positions will also be developed on market-design related topics and on any
possible future ACER framework guidelines (tariff harmonization).
Again 2015 will be a very important year for power market developments in Europe and for
ENTSO-Es work contributing to completing the Internal Energy Market (IEM). The impact
of RES, development and market integration of DSR and storage, and further developments
in smart grids and the cooperation of TSOs and DSOs will all strongly affect how electricity
markets function.
3.5.4 EU Energy Infrastructures

The creation and completion of the truly European internal market requires sufficient gas and
electricity cross-border transmission capacity. In this context, the Trans-European Energy
Network (TEN-E) Guidelines are an important policy instrument with the objective to boost
and accelerate the implementation and construction of connections and to increase the
incentives for private investors.
3.5.5 External Energy Policy

The European Commission adopted on 13 May 2003 a Communication which aims to
strengthen energy co-operation with neighboring countries. The paper stresses that the
progressive creation of a real European electricity and gas market, including potentially more
than 35 countries should be a clear medium-term objective of the European Union. This
objective to establish a much wider electricity market with non-EU countries could become a
considerable driver for the construction of further interconnections between the EU and its
neighboring countries.
32
3.5.6 Electricity Markets in CEE

The targeted full integration of national energy markets by 2014 into a global EU internal
energy market for electricity is a great challenge for the European power markets. Nowadays,
East-Central Europe countries have very recent power markets and are not well known by
occidental market players. However, among other consequences, the creation of this single
European energy market gives them a much more important role in the understanding of the
power prices evolution in Europe.
The Polish Power Exchange (POLPX) was created in 2000 which makes it the eldest power
market in CEE. The Power Exchange Central Europe (PXE), which initially offered power
trading for Czech power, was established in July 2007. In 2008, PXE introduced trading in
the Slovakian market and the Hungarian products were only launched on March 1, 2009.
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia launched the coupling of their electricity markets
in 2012 which brought a harmonized approach of market organization as well as more stable
and convergent electricity wholesale prices. Indeed, the correlation factor between Slovakia
and the Czech Republic since the beginning of 2013 is 0.999 which confirms that they evolve
similarly. More recently, on 11 July 2013, the accession of Poland and Romania to this
trilateral project of market coupling has been signed. This new cooperation should drive to a
convergence of prices in the years to come.
However liquidity of all these exchanges is very low and the deregulation of power markets
in most CEE countries starts slowly. For the second quarter of 2013, the liquidity ratio was of
17% in CEE according to the European Commission. The fact that energy players have
difficulties to quit the only supplier and regulated prices model is already known in West
Europe, but is even more real in CEE, due to the exchanges recent starting. The cases of
Poland and Romania give a good idea of these issues. In Poland, supply is divided between
several players in different regions. They totally control the offer, and let no room for
competition. This situation is absurd and the polish Energy Regulation Agency fears
disruption in power supply in the years to come, if nothing is done to liberalize the energy
sector. In Romania, a national agency regulates energy prices. The European Commission has
currently engaged an infringement proceeding against Romania to force this country to
deregulate its energy market before 2015.
Nevertheless, the CEE was the most dynamic power trading region in Europe during the
second quarter of 2013, as traded volume of day-ahead power grew by more than 15% on a
yearly basis. It is a good sign and indicates that the liquidity should increase in the years to
come.
33
The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection:

Turkish power system and ENTSO-E
The Helsinki European Council at the end of 1999 concluded that Turkey is a candidate state
destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate
States. Building on the existing European Strategy, Turkey, like other candidate states, will
benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms.
The full integration of the Turkish electricity market to the Internal Electricity Market of the
EU requires not only the alignment of the national legislation concerning the electricity
market with the relevant EU acquis, but also the synchronous physical connection of the
Turkish power system with the European electricity transmission network, the ENTSO-E
(Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity) network at full compatibility with
the ENTSO-E technical standards and requirements. The Ministry has the prime
responsibility as regards the achievement of this goal.
The connection of the Turkish power system with the former UCTE (presently, ENTSO-E)
power system have been on the agenda of Turkey since 1975. In the past, tie lines were built
with all neighboring countries except Greece but the priority has always been given to the
synchronous connection with the ENTSO-E power system. None of these tie lines have been
operated in synchronism and used only for energy exchanges with island supply and directed
generation methods.
In addition to the 400 kV link with Bulgaria which was commissioned in 1975, the second
400 kV link was completed in September 2002. A memorandum of understanding was signed
on 28 March 2002, in Ankara, for the construction of Babaeski Filippi 400 kV tie line
between Greece and Turkey, which is completed by the end of 2006. The necessary funds for
the construction of the Turkish segment (about 50 km) were secured through a World Bank
loan.
Since the early 90s, preliminary studies have been performed for various interconnection
options between the networks of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. These studies revealed that
the projects for the synchronous connection of the Turkish power system to the ENTSO-E
power system through Bulgaria and/or Greece is feasible and viable.
In 2000-2001, an elaborate set of studies for investigating several scenarios for connecting
Turkish power system to the ENTSO-E power system through Bulgaria and Greece have
been performed by a team of electricity utilities of the Balkans region, namely PPC (Greece),
TEAS (Turkey), NEK (Bulgaria) and EKC (Yugoslavia), and financed by the European
34
Commission within the framework of the TEN (Transmission European Networks) Program.
On 21 March 2000, TEAS made an application to ENTSO-E for membership. The ENTSO-E
Steering Committee took a decision on 26 April 2000 to consider and evaluate all
possibilities for the synchronous interconnection of the Turkish power system to the ENTSOE power system.
In this connection, a subgroup was formed under the System Development Working Group to
tackle with the issue of Turkey's possible connection to ENTSO-E. This subgroup has already
taken a number of steps concerning Turkey's application for the connection to ENTSO-E
power system, building upon the previous relevant studies:
Identified strategies, technical prerequisites and sequence of operation;

Defined further studies and preliminary tests needed concerning the envisaged
connection of Turkey to ENTSO-E;
Prepared a draft terms of reference for the activities that must be concluded prior to
taking a decision for the connection of the Turkish power system to the ENTSO-E
power system which includes:
Further studies complementing the static and stability studies;
Preliminary monitoring and tests of the Turkish power system;
Reports concerning the status of the Turkish power system including powerenergy balance, defense plans, restoration plans etc.
The static studies that will explore the impacts of Turkey's interconnection at the
regional level (i.e. on the network at the vicinity of Turkey) are to be performed by
the local ENTSO-E Transmission System Operators (TSOs) in the region;
The stability studies that will analyze the impacts of Turkey's interconnection on the
entire ENTSO-E system are to be performed by ENTSO-E TSOs with the leadership
of RWE of Germany.
The past experience of the ENTSO-E with previous system extensions (such as to CEE and
former Yugoslavia) proved that, prior to any system extension, static and stability studies
have to be used in order to eliminate possible negative impacts of the new interconnection on
the security of the systems at the vicinity as well as the entire ENTSO-E system. The
investigation of system expansion, identification of possible risks and taking of proper
counter-measures are essential preconditions to establish an effective interconnection.
4.1 Introduction
In order to get the maximum benefit of international interconnections, the targeted method is
synchronous parallel operation. In this respect, the priority of Turkey is connection to
35
ENTSO-E System. Studies have been performed for the energy exchange alternatives via
Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria since 1970s. None of the tie lines with these countries have
been operated in synchronization.
The studies performed in 1990s proved that synchronous connection of the Turkish power
system through Bulgaria and Greece to ENTSO-E is feasible and viable. ENTSO-E Steering
Committee decides to consider all possibilities of synchronously interconnecting the Electric
Power System of Turkey to the ENTSO-E Network and a subgroup was formed in order to
carry on the studies, preliminary tests and identify strategies related with the connection of
Turkey. In order to satisfy the system wide requirements, some expectations are defined for
power plants, in the scope of oscillatory stability.
Due to the enlargement of the European ENTSO-E power system towards Turkey, which take
place at the end of 2010, the damping behavior of inter area oscillations of the extended
system is gaining more and more importance.
As the consequence of feasibility studies which have been carried on so far about
synchronous interconnection of Turkish power system with ENTSO-E system, it is expected
that after interconnection of Turkish power system to ENTSO-E power system, inter area
oscillations with a frequency of around 0.15 Hz are proven to occur. Therefore, the Turkish
TSO is expected to satisfy the system wide stability criteria so as to guarantee the stable
operation of the grid before synchronous interconnection of the two systems.
To preserve the small signal rotor angle stability of the interconnected system, following
precaution have been recommended to the Turkish TSO by the ENTSO-E working
committee:
Retuning of governors of major hydroelectric power plants so as to not to deteriorate

the overall system damping for low frequency inter area oscillations;
Retuning of PSSs of considerable size power plants so as to damp low frequency
inter area oscillations;
Modification of STATCOMs to enhance damping in the case of poorly damped low
frequency inter area oscillations;
Modification of SVCs to enhance damping in the case of poorly damped low
frequency inter area oscillations;
Installation of braking resistors as a backup preventive measure to enhance damping
in case of poorly damped low frequency inter area oscillations;
36
4.2 The Turkish power system

The electric power generation in Turkey is divided into approximately 30% for steam power
plants, which are based on the local and imported lignite coal, 30% for hydro power plants,
which are located in the East and South-East of the country and 30% for combined cycle
power plants based on the imported natural gas. The installed capacity of the Turkish power
system is approximately 53 GW in 2011. The demand of electric energy can be divided into
households and industry, approximately one half each. A typical peak load situation in the
Turkish power system (29 GW) takes place in winter, around 6 p.m.: on weekdays. The main
load centers within the Turkish power system are located in the west and north-west of the
country. However, due to the big hydro potential, considerable electric power generation
capabilities are situated in the eastern and south-eastern part of Turkey. The electric power
transmission is therefore mainly designed for transits over long distances. High load flows
from south-east to north-west, involving high transmission losses, are typical for the Turkish
transmission system.
Fig. 4-1: Model of Turkish extra-high voltage transmission system
4.3 Analysis of the dynamic behavior of the Turkish power system in

isolated operation
With the related left and right eigenvectors, the mode shapes and participation factors
concerning the angular velocity
of each particular generator can also be derived. The
direction is given by the mode shape and the magnitude is given by the participation factors.
Dominant oscillation in Turkish power system in isolated operation is shown in Table 4-1.
The very highly damped oscillation can be assigned to primary control oscillation; because
the participation of the generators is not directed against each other. The oscillation periods
37
of the other two oscillations are both in the range of one second. Therein the north-south
oscillation shows a good damping of D = 10.9% and also the east-west oscillation with D =
5.1%. (With a damping D > 3% these oscillations are sufficiently damped).
Table 4-1: Dominant oscillations in the Turkish power system in isolated operation.
Oscillation
east-west
north-south
primary control
Eigenvalue (sP ) Oscillation Period (TP )

-0.22 j4.28
-0.60 j5.51
-0.11 j0.34
1.46 s
1.14 s
18.7 s
Damping (DP )
5.1%
10.9%
32.1%
In Fig. 4-2 the participation with respect to the angular velocity of the generators for the
north-south oscillation and for east-west oscillation are shown for the regarded 22 GW load
situation. Both the west-east and north-east oscillation possess one node line.
38
Fig. 4-2: Mode shapes and participation factors concerning the generators angular
velocity
shown as phasor diagram.
4.4 Inter area oscillation in the ENTSO-E power system before

interconnection
Recording of the Wide Area Measuring System (WAMS) have shown significant changes of
the dynamic system behavior. More than fifty devices for recording frequency and power
flows at the individual locations are installed in 400 kV and 220 kV in order to show all
recordings using the same time reference. A lot of recordings of inter area oscillation were
collected from WAMS, which are mostly excited by power plant outages and failure in the
220 kV or 400 kV voltages level of the transmission grid.
Fig. 4-3 shows an example inter area oscillation after a power plant outage 1200 MW in
Spain. After the power plant outage, the frequency decreases immediately in the proximity of
the outage (Spain). The decreasing of frequency spreads over the whole system and finally
reaches Romania and Bulgaria with a time delay of about 2 seconds. The frequency of the
observed inter area oscillation is in the range from 0.22 to 0.26 Hz and in most cases the
damping is sufficient. In some cases poor damping was detected.
Fig. 4-4 shows an east-west inter area oscillation caused on 1/5/2005. The damping is very
poor in this case, because the amplitude of frequency and power oscillation does not decrease
significantly during the first ten oscillation periods.
Fig. 4-3: Inter area oscillation after 1200 MW power plant outage in Spain.
39
Fig. 4-4: Poor damping east-west inter area oscillation on 1/5/2005
4.5 The enlarged ENTSO-E power system after interconnection

Now, the effects of Turkish power system on the oscillation damping behavior of the
enlarged ENTSO-E system are analyzed. Therefore, the model of the current ENTSO-E
system is linked with the Turkish part model. As basis for the simulations, a poorly damped
inter area oscillation, occurred within the ENTSO-E system, triggered by a 1.4 GW outage of
Block 2 Civeaux in France is used. With a dominant eigenvalue
= 0.013 1.42
which correspond to an oscillation period TP = 4.42 s and a damping D1 %, this inter area
oscillation is poorly damped.
Based on the detailed model of current synchronous ENTSO-E system and extended by
Turkish part model, the dynamic behavior of the enlarged ENTSO-E system is analyzed. The
resulting enlarged ENTSO-E system has a large extent in east-west direction. Moreover, the
connection between Turkey and Bulgaria is weak.
To analyze the dynamic behavior of the enlarged power system some scenarios are
considered. In scenario I, no active power exchange between Turkey and Bulgaria takes
place. In scenario II, an active power import to Turkey and in scenario III, an active power
export from Turkey of 500 MW is analyzed. In scenario IV, the additional impact of an
exchange between Spain and France on the oscillation damping behavior is considered.
1- Scenario I
As expected the dominant eigenvalues change for the enlarged ENTSO-E system in
comparison to the ENTSO-E system in its current extend. Via modal analysis, now two new
40
dominant eigenvalues can be identified. A poorly damped east-west-3 oscillation (EW-3)

with three node lines and an oscillation period of TP = 3.7 s and a damping of D = 3.6 %, and
another poorly damped but slower east-west-1 oscillation (EW-1) with an oscillation period
TP = 6.3 s and a damping of D = 2.8 %, see Table 4-2.
Table 4-2: Dominant inter area oscillations in the enlarged ENTSO-E system for scenario I.
Oscillation
EW-1
EW-2
EW-3
Eigenvalue (sP )
-0.03 j0.99
-0.10 j1.31
-0.06 j1.70
Oscillation Period (TP )

6.3 s
4.8 s
3.7 s
Damping (DP )
2.8%
7.7%
3.6%
The east-west-2 oscillation (EW-2) corresponds with an oscillation period of TP = 4.8 s to the
dominant oscillation in the ENTSO-E system in its current extend but now with two nodelines. However, this oscillation is sufficiently damped with a damping of D = 7.7 %.

EW-1 oscillation, scenario I
41

EW-3 oscillation, scenario I
In Fig. 4-5 and Fig. 4-6, the mode shapes and the participation factors concerning the angular
velocity G of the generators are shown in a phasor diagram for the two poorly damped
oscillation EW-1 and EW-3. In case of the poorly damped EW-3 oscillation, three node-lines
emerge; one between Spain and Morocco, one following the western boarder of Germany and
one between Bulgaria and Turkey, Fig. 4-6. The generators in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia
participate stronger in this oscillation than other parts of the system.
Showing the poorly damped behavior with only one node-line along the east border of
Germany, the EW-1 oscillation is the one of highest interest, Fig. 4-5. The generators of
Greece, Bulgaria and especially Turkey participate very strongly in this inter area oscillation.
2- Scenario II
Table 4-3 shows that for a 500 MW import to Turkey, the two faster oscillations EW-2 and
EW-3 are barely affected and the EW-1 oscillation is better damped.
Table 4-3: Dominant inter area oscillations for scenario II.
Oscillation
EW-1
EW-2
EW-3
Eigenvalue (sP )
-0.05 j0.99
-0.10 j1.31
-0.06 j1.70
Oscillation Period (TP )

6.4 s
4.8 s
3.7 s
3- Scenario III
42
Damping (DP)
4.6%
7.9%
3.7%
If Turkey exports 500 MW of active power, this also does barely affect the two faster
oscillations EW-2 and EW-3, Table 4-4. However, the export does strongly decrease the
damping of the slower EW-1 oscillation. A further increase of the active power export
compromises the dynamic stability of the enlarged ENTSO-E system. Due to the fact that the
Turkish and the Bulgaria power systems are weakly connected over few transmission lines, a
bottleneck analogous to the one between France and Spain exists.
Table 4-4: Dominant inter area oscillations for scenario III.
Oscillation
EW-1
EW-2
EW-3
Eigenvalue (sP )
-0.01 j0.99
-0.10 j1.31
-0.06 j1.70
Oscillation Period (TP ) Damping (DP )

6.3 s
1.3%
4.8 s
7.9%
3.7 s
3.6%
4- Scenario IV
Based on simulation scenario III, the active power exchange between Spain and France is
now varied based on 160 MW power export of Spain. If no active power flow between Spain
and France takes place, this results in a slight increase in damping of the EW-1 oscillation,
with a damping D = 1.4 %. In contrast, if Spain imports active power from France, this
results in a further increase in damping of the EW-1 oscillation.
However, due to the fact that in the case of the EW-1 oscillation the participation of the
Turkish generators is the strongest, the load flow between the Turkish and the Bulgarian
power system have a stronger effect on the damping behavior of this oscillation, Fig. 4-5.
4.6 Improvement of the oscillation damping behavior of the enlarged

ENTSO-E power system by damping measures in the Turkish
power system
The connection between ENTSO-E and Turkey will not be securely possible under stability
considerations. Since a satisfactory damping of the resulting 6.3 s oscillation is not assured
for all considered system configurations.
4.6.1 Improvement measures

Not least due to the bottleneck between Turkey and Bulgaria the enlarged ENTSO-E system
has a large extent. The resulting EW-1 oscillation with Tp = 6.3 s is poorly damped.
Furthermore, an import of active power to Turkey strengthens, and an export weakens the
damping of this oscillation. The bottleneck between Spain and France does influence this
43
oscillation accordingly. Due to the fact that the generators of the eastern hemisphere
participate stronger in EW-1 oscillation than the generators of the western hemisphere, the
changing load flow between Turkey and Bulgaria has a stronger influence. Therefore, before
connecting Turkish power system to the ENTSO-E system in the current state, the damping
of the occurring dominant 6.3 s oscillation (EW-1) has to be ensured, also for different load
flow situations to retain a stable system operation. Both, the voltage and speed controllers
within the Turkish power system contribute to this oscillation.
4.6.2 Power system stabilizer

The most important damping measure to be taken against the risk of inter area oscillation
after interconnected operation is the retuning of the PSS of considerable size power plants
according to the optimized parameters so as to not to deteriorate (and if possible improve) the
natural damping of the machines for the low frequency inter area oscillation.
In the Turkish power system the power system stabilizer devices (PSS) are installed in 21
power plants. These devices are set to be able to damp the local oscillation with a period of 1
s. For the new identified inter area oscillation with a period of 7 s the PSS-devices with their
parameter setting for local damping are not suitable. Therefore, the new setting of PSSdevices in some power plants in Turkey is required to improve the oscillation damping
behavior of the enlarged ENTSO-E system.
4.6.3 Static Var Compensators (SVC)

In the Turkish power system the Static Var Compensators (SVC) are installed already in 10
zones near of the big steel manufactories. These SVCs in the past were used only to increase
the quality of voltage. The existed SVCs today have not only to improve the voltage and the
reactive power quality, but also the oscillation damping behavior of the system using an
additional frequency signal in their voltage controller to modulate the voltage of the steel
manufactories proportional to the frequencies as shown in Fig. 4-7.
44
Fig. 4-7: The structure of SVC controller using additional frequency signal.
4.6.4 Braking resistor

The retuned PSS and SVCs with the additional frequency signal could have very good effect
in improvement of the oscillation damping behavior, but they have the disadvantages that the
damping is lost, if power plants for the retuned PSSs and the steel manufactories for the
modified SVCs are not in operation. Thus, the installation of braking resistor in the next
backup solution is necessary. The braking resistor is able to guarantee the stability of the
system. The braking resistor are switched on in the positive half cycle and off in the negative
half cycle.
4.6.5 HVDC connection to Persian power system

HVDC connection to the eastern neighbors of Turkey like Persian power system is the next
additional backup solution. The HVDC connection helps the enlarged ENTSO-E power
system to become stable and improve the oscillation damping behavior of the whole system.
4.7 Synchronization of ENTSO-E and Turkish power systems

On 18/9/2010 at 9:25 the first line between Turkey and Bulgaria was closed and consequently
at that time the Turkish power system was synchronized with ENTSO-E power system.
Stable operation of both systems took place. After that the second line between Turkey and
Bulgaria as well as the line between Turkey and Greece were closed successfully.
45
4.7.1 TEIAS parallel trial interconnection with ENTSO-Es synchronous zone

Continental Europe
On 18 September 2010 at 9:25 (CET) the Turkish power system was synchronized with the
interconnected power systems of Continental Europe. In accordance with ENTSO-E
procedures, during that period the security and performance of the interconnected systems
will be monitored.
The Turkish power system is connected to the Bulgarian system by two 400 kV lines and to
the Greek system by one 400 kV line. The parallel operation within the Continental European
Synchronous Area will increase the quality and security of the electricity supply in Turkey,
and is foreseen to eventually provide access to the European Electricity Market. In terms of
commercial power exchanges, this trial parallel operation period will be divided into three
phases:
1- Stabilization Period with no scheduled exchange of energy. This phase will last two
weeks.
2- After the evaluation of the stabilization period, non-commercial energy exchange will
be carried out between the Turkish system operator and respectively the Bulgarian
and the Greek transmission system operators in both directions and at both borders.
Thus, physical electricity exchange will take place without any trading involved. All
energy flows will be reversible and the transmitted electricity will be returned to the
original tariff zone. The electricity balance will be zero for all TSOs involved. This
phase will continue for two weeks.
3- Once these two phases are successfully accomplished, the trial operation period will
proceed to Phase 3, in which limited capacity allocation for commercial electricity
exchange between Turkey and ENTSO-Es Continental Europe Synchronous Area
will be allowed, according to procedures mutually agreed between Bulgaria, Greece
and Turkey, and in line with EU rules and ENTSO-E procedures.
Auction rules for commercial exchanges will be published in due time and will be announced
by ENTSO-E separately.
By April 2014 the Regional Group Continental Europe Plenary and Regional Group
Continental South East (RG CSE) took the decision on permanent synchronous operation of
the Turkish system with the system of Continental Europe. Within 2014 the Long-Term
Agreement will be presented to TEIAS and is expected to be signed. Within 2015 the
operational performance of the Turkish System operated by TEIAS will be monitored by the
Project Group Turkey.
46
Required Study for Interconnection
In order to evaluate the feasibility and opportunity to extend an interconnected network to

new partners, it is necessary to carry out a quantitative analysis of gains and drawbacks
deriving from possible expansions. Gains and drawbacks are usually treated by considering
several aspects:
Technical
Economical
Organization and management
Environmental
Political and social
Hereafter, a very synthetic list of the gains and problems expected from a general
interconnection is reported.
Expected gains and drawbacks in view point of technical aspects:

reinforcement of the systems
improvement of operation security and reliability
O interconnection reliability
O voltage profiles and reactive power flows
O possible loop flows
O dynamic interactions
Expected gains and drawbacks in view point of economical aspects:
installed capacity reduction
load leveling
economic optimization of power exchanges with the possibility of energy trading
between producers and customers located in different countries
possibility of setting up an international stock exchange for electric energy trading
economical optimization of generation facilities
spinning reserve reduction
exploitation of economy scale generation groups
O adaptation of a new partner to meet already accepted common standards can bring
about too relevant costs compared to gains deriving from the interconnection
O necessity of upgrading new partner(s) in terms of technical means and personnel
know-how
Environmental gains reachable from interconnected power systems:
enhanced use of sources on a continental (and in some cases intercontinental)
47
scale
possibility to exploit new operating plants complying with stricter environmental
limits
thanks to power transfer, use of renewable power sources located far from loads
Political and Social Aspects
Expanding an interconnected power system determines a full cooperation among
electric utilities leading to a know-how transfer among utilities. Furthermore,
adaptation of less developed systems to common standards involves investment
programs on long-scale time (about ten years) then encouraging a larger commercial
cooperation. Interconnecting power systems provides a stronger penetration of
electric energy especially in less developed or poor areas.
5.1 Evolution of the Planning Process

Realization of the interconnection projects requires huge investments that shall be recovered
in a reasonable time interval. Furthermore, the planner cannot disregard that the ongoing
liberalization of the electricity markets in many areas worldwide is introducing new factors in
the network management, mainly related to:
High degree of uncertainty for the future generation expansion;

Growth of distributed generation on MV and even LV level;
Lack of direct control form the ISOs in the length of time between project initiation
and completion for new generation;
Greater difficulty in the realization of new network reinforcements considering the
multiplicity of the transmission system owners;
Increased number of eligible customers able to get energy wherever economically
convenient;
Financial contracts (e.g. futures, spot contracts) requiring the network to have
sufficient available transmission capacity to fulfill the contracts, that in their turn,
are subject to uncertainty;
Choices of the Regulatory Board (e.g. price policy for remunerating energy
transmission).
All the factors above push to a deep review of the decisional process for the network capacity
planning. In general, new planning methods can be split in two main classes:
multi-scenario methods (e.g. average cost, hedging methods, Hurwitz criterion)

decision tree analysis
5.2 System Performance Analysis

Considering the enormous investments needed for the power system interconnections, a
careful and detailed assessment of the economic profitability and technical feasibility of the
project has to be carried out. This requires the availability of a suitable methodology as well
48
as efficient computational tools. The chosen methodology is then applied to:
Project planning and design

Project implementation
System operation
5.3 Cost-Benefit Analysis

Potential benefits of cross-border interconnection of large systems are great and at the same
time the costs for such interconnection are also significant. Potential benefits include
economical savings, environmental protection, reliability enhancement, and others.
Comparative studies of alternatives of expansion plans, including cross-border
interconnections, should be carried out for cost-benefit analysis.
5.4 Network Analysis

5.4.1 Aim of Network Analysis
The aim of the network analysis is to check that the existing network and the interconnection
lines are able to transmit the expected level of exchanges.
5.4.2 Network Appropriateness towards Voltage Control

The voltage and reactive control along the interface has been assessed using the past and
present experiences and suitable power flow computations. In this section, the
appropriateness of the interface has been determined using a deterministic approach.
Different export scenarios have been set up, characterized by the transfers and the
geographical structure of the import-export. Static and transient regimes have been studied to
assess the interface appropriateness.
Mostly, the minimum active losses criterion will be used as a target of interconnection. The
resulting voltages are well controlled on the whole interconnected network, even for very
large transfers. There is consequently no voltage bottleneck appearing for all range of
transfers and the maximum transfer is determined.
5.4.3 Power and Frequency Control

Regarding power and frequency control, the interconnection approach requires a
compatibility analysis for steady state operation and dynamic system behavior as well due to
49
the overall physical coupling by the common system frequency. In other words, before
interconnection the compatibility of both systems and the effectiveness of the executed
measures will have to be proved by statistical evaluation of the frequency quality and analysis
of the dynamic frequency behavior after power plant outages.
v
Primary Control
In order to achieve a balanced participation of each subsystem in control actions the required
primary control reserve must be activated in proportion to the frequency deviation within
same range agreed between system operators.
Additional transient usage of transmission capacity is to be expected due to different dynamic
primary control characteristics in two interconnected systems. In order to manage these
transient power flows after power plant outages the short term overload capability of the
transmission lines may be taken into account and the protection schemes have to be adapted
if necessary.
v Secondary and Tertiary Control
A sufficient quality of load matching determines control reserve value which is continuously
running under secondary control. If this control reserve is exhausted, e.g. after power plant
outage, the sufficient amount of tertiary control reserve must be activated within an agreed
interval to replace the activated secondary and primary control reserve.
50
Reference
1- J. Glover and M. Sarma, Power System Analysis and Design, 3rd edition. Brooks/Cole,
Pacific Grove, CA, 2002.
2- W. Stevenson, Elements of Power System Analysis, 4th edition, 1982.
3- Fitzgerald, C. Kingsley, and S. Umans, Electric Machinery, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill, New
York, 2003.
4- J. Casazza and G. Loehr, The Evolution of Electric Power Transmission Under Deregulation.
IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, 1999.
5- North American Reliability Council, Transmission Transfer Capability: A Reference
Document for Calculating and Reporting the Electric Power Transfer Capability of
Interconnected Systems.
6- T. Hughes, Networks of Power: Electrification in Western Society, 1880-1930. Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
7- R. Rudervall, J. Charpentier, and R. Sharma, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
Transmission Systems Technology Review Paper. Joint World Bank-ABB Paper, available
as http://www.worldbank.org/ , html/fpd/em/transmission/technology_abb.pdf
8- R. Grunbaum, J. Charpentier, and R. Sharma, Improving the efficiency and quality of AC
transmission
systems.
Joint
World
Bank-ABB
Paper,
available
as
http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/em/transmission/efficiency_abb.pdf.
9- T. Overbye, Power System Simulation: Understanding Small- and Large-System
OperationsIEEE Power and Energy, Jan/Feb 2004
10- E. Ewald and D. Angland, Regional Integration of Electric Power Systems. IEEE Spectrum,
April 2004.
11- R. Rincliffe , Planning and Operation of a Large Power Pool. IEEE Spectrum, January
1967.
12- E. Lerner, Whats Wrong with the Electric Grid? The Industrial Physicist,
October/November 2003.
13- A. Edris, FACTS Technology Development: An Update. IEEE Power Engineering Review,
March 2000.
14- General Electric Company and Electric Power Research Institute, Transmission Line
Reference Book 345kV and Above, 2nd edition. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA.
15- J. Blackburn, Protective Relaying: Principles and Applications, 2nd edition. Marcel Dekker,
New York.
16- AECOM,
"Electric
Power
Transmission
&
Distribution",
available
as:
http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Energy/Transmission%20and%20
Distribution/Transmission%20and%20Distribution%20Global%20Brochure.pdf.
17- MIT STUDY ON THE FUTURE OF THE ELECTRIC GRID, " The Future of the Electric
Grid", 2011, available as: https://mitei.mit.edu/system/files/Electric_Grid_Full_Report.pdf
18- Roy Billinton, Ronald N. Allan, "Reliability Evaluation of Power Systems ", second version.
51
19- R.P. ONeill, U. Helman, B.F. Hobbs, W.R. Stewart and M.H. Rothkopf, "The Joint Energy
and Transmission Rights Auction: A General Framework for RTO Market Designs," Working
Paper, Office of Markets, Tariffs and Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, July 31,
2001, http://business.wm.edu/william.stewart/Energy/energy_market_economics.htm
20- Richard P. ONeill, Ross Baldick, Wedad Elmaghraby, Michael H. Rothkopf, and William R.
Stewart, Jr., Finding Two-Part Tariffs that Support Efficient Equilibria in Non-Convex
Markets,
August
2004,
http://business.wm.edu/william.stewart/Energy/energy_market_economics.htm.
21- A. J. Wood and B. F. Wollenberg, Power Generation Operation and Control, 2nd Ed., John
Wiley and Sons, New York, January 1996.
22- David Bojas, "South-East Europe Transmission System Planning Project".
23- UCTE Annual Reports.
24- www.entsoe.eu
25- Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE), 3rd SE Europe Energy Dialogue,
ENERGY COOPERATION AMONG THE SEE ENERGY COMMUNITY TREATY
STATES, Dr. Evangelos Lekatsas, Chairman of Hellenic Transmission System Operator S.A.
Thessaloniki, June 18-19th, 2009.
26- Indar Energy, " Electricity markets in Central Eastern Europe CEE (Czech Republic,
Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) "
27- Market Observatory for Energy of the European Commission. Quarterly report on European
electricity market. Volume 5 Issues 1, 2, 3 and 4 and volume 6, issue 1. Available at
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/observatory/electricity/electricity_en.htm.
28- PXE.
Monthly
Market
Comments.
Available
at
http://www.pxe.cz/dokument.aspx?k=Statistika.
29- Austrian Energy Agency. http://www.enercee.net/energy-policy-and-eu/energy-policy.html.
30- France Diplomatie. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/europe-5128/.
31- Power
Exchange
Central
Europe
(Czech,
Slovakian
and
Hungarian
Power).http://www.pxe.cz/.
32- Czech Power Exchange. http://www.ote-cr.cz/.
33- Hungarian Power Exchange. http://www.hupx.hu/home/index.
34- Polish Power Exchange. http://www.tge.pl/en.
35- Romanian Power Exchange. http://www.opcom.ro/pp/home.php?lang=en.
36- Slovenian Power Exchange. http://www.bsp-southpool.com/
37- Transelectrica (Romanian Power Grid Company). July 2013. Available at
http://www.transelectrica.ro/EN/PDF/Press%20release%20EN.pdf.
38- Alberta School of Business. M. Wedatalla, A. Ogilvie and S. Khan. May 2013. Natural
Resources in Energy and Environment in Czech Republic Prague Energy Exchange.
Available
at
http://cabreeualberta.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/nree-in-czech-republicpragueenergy-exchange/
39- Turkish Electricity Generation and Transmission Co.
http://www.teias.gov.tr/eng/ElectricityMarketLaw.aspx
52
40- TEIAS, Existing and prospective electricity interconnections of Turkey. Available at :

http://www.encharter.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Conferences/2012_March/Existing_and_Pro
spective_Electricity_Interconnections_of_Turkey.pdf
41- Janusz Bielecki, Melaku Geboye Desta, " Electricity Trade in Europe: Review of Economic
and Regulatory Challenges ", Kluwer Law International, Dey 11, 1382 AP
42- Memorandum of understanding on North-South Interconnections in Central-Eastern Europe.
43- ACTION PLAN FOR NORTH-SOUTH ENERGY INTERCONNECTIONS IN CENTRALEASTERN EUROPE.
44- Andras Deak, Dmytro Naumenko, Helena Schulzova, Pavol Szalai, "ENERGY SECURITY
IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: TOWARDS A COMMON APPROACH", 2013.
45- Jan PANEK, "European Energy Security Strategy", 8 October 2014. Available at:
http://www.energetikoskonferencija.lt/file/repository/Jan_PanekLietuvosEnergetikosKonfere
ncija2014.pdf
46- The Internal Energy Market Progress Report s The View for The CEE Member States are
available
at:
http://www.mondaq.com/x/222028/Energy+Law/The+Internal+Energy+Market+Progress+Re
port+The+View+For+The+CEE+Member+States
47- Peter Meisen, Charezade Mohammadi, "Cross-Border Interconnections on Every Continent",
global energy network institute, June 2010.
48- Political Aspects of Grid Interconnection, available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/publications/energy/chapter5.pdf
49- Mahar Abaza, "Africa-Europe Electrical Interconnection and Prospects of World wide
Interconnection".
50- LAILA GEORGY YOUSSEF, "NORTH AFRICAN / MIDDLE EAST / EUROPEAN
ELECTRICITY COOPERATION & AFRICAN INTERCONNECTION", 2004.
51- Anjan Roy, S. A. Khaparde, Senior Member, IEEE, P. Pentayya, S. Usha, A. R. Abhyankar, "
Operating Experience of Regional Interconnections In India", 2005.
52- Chris Greacen, Richard Engel, Thomas Quetchenbach, "A Guidebook on Grid
Interconnection and Islanded Operation of
Mini-Grid Power Systems Up to 200 kW",
April 2013.
53- Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Agency (Tanzania), Guidelines for Grid
Interconnection of Small Power Projects in Tanzania. Part A: Mandatory Requirements and
Test Procedure. Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Agency, Mar. 2009.
54- Central Electricity Authority (India), Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid,
Gazette of India, Part III, Section 4, no. 26, pp. 63656382, Jun. 26, 2010. Available
at:http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/regulation/grid_standards_reg.pdf
55- NERC, Interconnection Requirements for Variable Generation, September 2012.
56- Interconnection of EC and CIS power systems and electricity markets a way for increasing
power supply reliability.
57- V. Sitnikov, D. Povh, D. Retzmann, " SOLUTIONS FOR LARGE POWER SYSTEM
INTERCONNECTIONS", CIGRE 17. 19. Sept. 2003.
53

Opportunities and Challenges For Interconnection of Iran Grid Into Neighboring Countries-Ver00

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Opportunities and Challenges For Interconnection of Iran Grid Into Neighboring Countries-Ver00

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Opportunities and Challenges for Interconnection of

Iran Grid into Neighboring Countries

exposure to potential political instabilities in a neighboring country, and considerations

1.1 Benefits of Grid Interconnections

1.2 Complexities and Risks of Grid Interconnections

1.3 Trends in Power Systems Interconnection

1.4 Technological Opportunities

Fig. 1-1 : Alternatives of system interconnections

Different Aspect of Grids Interconnection

2.2 Economic and Financial Impacts

The indirect costs and benefits of an interconnection can include:

2.3 Legal and Political Impacts

2.4 Energy Security

improved electricity supply

lower cost of fuel, capital

improvement in power quality

exposure to new technologies can

reliance on proven technologies for

higher energy imports and increased

additional costs of infrastructure for

exposure to risk from poor power

risk of being obligated to continue

2.5 Technical Issues Associated with AC Grid Interconnection

Loop and Parallel Path Flows

Available Transmission Capacity (ATC)

Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS)

Interconnection of Power Systems with Weak Grids

2.6 Technical Issues Related to DC Interconnections

Components of an HVDC System

The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection: CEE

3.2 Historical Background of Development of CEE and Interconnection

Interconnection Working Group (IWG)

The Power Systems of the CEE Countries

3.3.2 Transmission Systems of CEE Countries

The CEZ Transmission System

MVM Transmission System

PSE Transmission System

Control of power exchange between CEE and ENTSO-E

Accounting and offsetting unintentional deviations within CEE

The tie lines between CEE and ENTSO-E are:

From PSE to VEAG/Bewag, Germany

From CEZ to VEAG/Bewag, Germany

From CEZ to Bayenwerk, Germany

From SE to OVG, Austria

From MVM to OVG, Austria

3.4 Analysis of the ENTSO-E/CEE Power System

v Wide Area Measuring System

3.5 The interaction of Synchronization with Electricity Market

3.5.1 Strategic Plan of EU

3.5.2 Energy Policy

3.5.3 EU Internal Electricity Market

cooperation of TSOs (and Regulators) is fundamentally needed. It should be essential to

3.5.4 EU Energy Infrastructures

3.5.5 External Energy Policy

3.5.6 Electricity Markets in CEE

The International Experiences in Synchronous Interconnection:

Identified strategies, technical prerequisites and sequence of operation;

Retuning of governors of major hydroelectric power plants so as to not to deteriorate

4.2 The Turkish power system

Fig. 4-1: Model of Turkish extra-high voltage transmission system

4.3 Analysis of the dynamic behavior of the Turkish power system in

Eigenvalue (sP ) Oscillation Period (TP )

shown as phasor diagram.