Developing a Decision Tree Algorithm for Wind Power Plants Siting and Sizing in Distribution Networks

• Main Authors: Santosh Ghimire, Seyed Morteza Alizadeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: wind power plant; distribution network; X/R ratio; short-circuit capacity; decision tree
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/8/2293

The interconnection of wind power plants (WPPs) with distribution networks has posed many challenges concerned with voltage stability at the point of common coupling (PCC). In a distribution network connected WPP, the short-circuit ratio (SCR) and impedance angle ratio seen at PCC (X/R_PCC) are the most important parameters, which affect the PCC voltage (V_PCC) stability. Hence, design engineers need to conduct the WPP siting and sizing assessment considering the SCR and X/R_PCC seen at each potential PCC site to ensure that the voltage stability requirements defined by grid codes are provided. In various literature works, optimal siting and sizing of distributed generation in distribution networks (DG) has been carried out using analytical, numerical, and heuristics approaches. The majority of these methods require performing computational tasks or simulate the whole distribution network, which is complex and time-consuming. In addition, other works proposed to simplify the WPP siting and sizing have limited accuracy. To address the aforementioned issues, in this paper, a decision tree algorithm-based model was developed for WPP siting and sizing in distribution networks. The proposed model eliminates the need to simulate the whole system and provides a higher accuracy compared to the similar previous works. For this purpose, the model accurately predicts key voltage stability criteria at a given interconnection point, including V_PCC profile and maximum permissible wind power generation, using the SCR and X/R_PCC values seen at that point. The results confirmed the proposed model provides a noticeable high accuracy in predicting the voltage stability criteria under various validation scenarios considered.