Probabilistic load flow for voltage assessment in radial systems with wind power

Exploitation of renewable energy sources in power networks, especially wind energy, is considered an alternative for power generation as a non-polluting source with a low environmental impact and low operational cost. Hence, renewable energy has motivated the increment of penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) in distribution networks and the development of methodologies to evaluate their effects in the electrical system, which is characterized by uncertainties at all levels (generation, network and load). In this paper, a new analytical approach is explored to formulate and solve the Probabilistic Load Flow (PLF), which shows the voltage profile of a network including uncertainties of power injections and consumption. This approach is based on the linearization of load flow (LF) equations for Radial Distribution Systems (RDSs) using the probabilistic arithmetical laws. The solution is compared to Monte-Carlo Simulation (MCS), which is the most common simulation used to solve the PLF problem. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.