Transmission network expansion planning in power systems using the AC model and optimization metaheuristics

• Grant number: 24/22473-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Henrique Faria Macedo Possagnolo
• Grantee: Angee Daniela Leiva García
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project proposes an optimization approach to the transmission network expansion planning problem utilizing the AC model and efficient optimization metaheuristics. When the AC model is used to represent the electrical network operation, the expansion planning problem must also consider the allocation of reactive power generation sources at the system buses. Therefore, the objective is to identify, modify, or develop an AC mathematical model in a nonlinear formulation, which will serve as a reference and help identify the subproblems that the metaheuristics must solve during the optimization process. The proposal involves designing the variable neighborhood search (VNS) and greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) metaheuristics to address the transmission network expansion planning problem. These metaheuristics are intended to be implemented to solve large-scale and highly complex instances.