Appendix 2

Meridians case study of static voltage stability issues in Auckland

This Appendix discusses analysis undertaken by Meridian Energy to investigate the
significance of the voltage stability in the analysis undertaken by the Electricity
Commission in relation to the supply into Auckland contained within the draft Initial
Statement of Opportunities.
The analysis was performed for one generation scenario for one year, based on the PSSE
models published with the SOO. This analysis was based on static voltage stability only.
No analysis was performed on dynamic stability due to a lack of information. It is
understood, however, that dynamic stability modelling would probably result in more
important considerations that are not picked up in load flow or static stability modelling.
As an aside, as the QV curves become tighter (as shown in this study), this indicates that
the system is more susceptible to disturbances.
ANALYSIS
Our assumptions included:

The additional capacitors specify the extra reactive support that was required to
enable the base case to be solved.

The P margin represents additional active power increase in the study area to
reach voltage stability point (calculates from PV curve). Transpowers operational
policy is that this be at least 5% of area demand.

The Q margin represents additional reactive power available in the study area
before reaching the voltage stability point (calculates from QV curve)

For the first four scenarios, the critical contingency was OTC and the voltage
collapse was centred in Hamilton and South Auckland.
For the last scenario, the critical contingency was HLY_TAK_OTA_1 and the
voltage collapse was centred in Northland.

Additional static reactive support was added to meet Transpowers operational

policy.

The preliminary Voltage Stability analysis considered the Auckland and North Isthmus
area demand. The analysis was based on PSSE data files provided by the Electricity
Commission as part of the SOO. The analysis was performed using PSSE30 and is
intended as a guide for predicting the voltage collapse point as Auckland and North
Isthmus area demand is increased above the various demand scenarios. (Voltage collapse
occurs when insufficient transmission and other reactive support is available to support
the level of transfer over the grid.)

Fig 1.1: PV graph explanation (fig from PSSE30 Users Manual)

Fig 1.2: QV graph explanation (fig from PSSE30 Users Manual)

Low demand scenario (winter)
The assumptions for the low demand scenario are:

the plant setup for the Large Hydro Scenario 2016 was modelled with the
addition of a Marsden condenser; and

the regional low demand winter load profile specified in Appendix 4 of the Initial
Statement of Opportunities Draft was used at a power factor of 0.98.

The results showed that there was a margin of 220MW or about 9% of area demand.
Voltage
Collapse
Point
220MW

Fig 1.3: PV graph of OTA220kV (Red) and BOB33kV (Blue) for the contingency of OTC
during the low demand scenario
The QV plots showed that the critical voltage was 0.96pu; this suggests that for each
MVar added, demand that can be supplied increases by ~0.76MW.

Knee Point
(-300MVar
@ 0.96PU)

Fig 1.4: QV graph of OTA220kV for the contingency of OTC during the low demand
scenario; Knee point at -300MVar

Mean demand scenario (winter)

The assumptions for the mean demand scenario are:

the plant setup for the Large Hydro Scenario 2016 was modelled with the
addition of a Marsden condenser;

the regional mean demand winter load profile specified in Appendix 4 of the Initial
Statement of Opportunities Draft was used at a power factor of 0.98; and
330MVar of capacitors were installed at Otahuhu and around Hamilton area to
meet Transpowers 5% security margin.

The results showed that there was a margin of 140MW or about 5% of demand. The
critical contingency was OTC and the voltage collapse was centred in Hamilton and south
Auckland.

Voltage
Collapse
Point
140MW

Fig 1.5: PV graph of OTA220kV (Red) and BOB33kV (Blue) for the contingency of OTC
during the mean demand scenario.
The QV plots showed that ~190MVar of reactive support was required to maintain
Transpowers 5% margin. It also showed that the critical voltage was 0.98pu; this suggests
that for each MVar added demand that can be supplied increases by ~0.74MW.

Knee Point
(-190MVar
@ 0.98PU

Fig 1.6: QV graph of OTA220kV for the contingency of OTC during the medium demand
scenario; Knee point at -200MVar
High demand scenario (winter)
The assumptions for the high demand scenario are:

the plant setup for the Large Hydro Scenario 2016 was modelled with the
addition of a Marsden condenser;
the regional high demand winter load profile specified in Appendix 4 of the Initial
Statement of Opportunities Draft was used at a power factor of 0.98; and
620MVar of capacitors were installed at Otahuhu and around Hamilton area to
meet Transpowers 5% security margin.

The results showed that there was a margin of 150MW or about 5% of demand. The
critical contingency was OTC and the voltage collapse was centred in Hamilton and south
Auckland.

Voltage
Collapse
Point
150MW

Fig 1.7: PV graph of OTA220kV (Red) and BOB33kV (Blue) for the contingency of OTC
during the high demand scenario.
The QV plots showed that ~270MVar of reactive support was required to maintain
Transpowers 5% margin. It also showed that the critical voltage was 0.99pu; this suggests
that for each MVar added demand that can be supplied increases by ~0.55MW.

Knee Point
(-270MVar
@ 0.99PU

Fig 1.8: QV graph of OTA220kV for the contingency of OTC during the medium demand
scenario; Knee point at -270MVar

Huntly river heating scenario (summer)

The assumptions for the Huntly river heating scenario are:

the plant setup for the Large Hydro Scenario 2016 was modelled with the
addition of a Marsden condenser;
demand was modelled as 0.83% of mean winter peak demand and a power factor
of 0.96 was used instead of 0.98;

additional capacitors were installed at Otahuhu and around Hamilton areas it was
assumed that the capacitors available would be the same as the mean demand
scenario; and

two of the Huntly units were made unavailable to represent water heating issues.

The results showed that there was a margin of 230MW or about 10% of demand. The
critical contingency was OTC and the voltage collapse was centred in Hamilton, south
Auckland and north of Auckland.

Voltage
Collapse
Point
230MW

Fig 1.9: PV graph of OTA220kV (Red) and BOB33kV & KEN33kV (Blue) for the
contingency of OTC during the Huntly river heating scenario
OTC outage scenario (summer)
The assumptions for the OTC outage scenario are:

the plant setup for the Large Hydro Scenario 2016 was modelled with the
addition of a Marsden condenser;

demand was modelled as 0.83% of mean winter peak demand and a power factor
of 0.96 was used instead of 0.98;

additional capacitors were installed at Otahuhu and around Hamilton areas it was
assumed that the capacitors available would be the same as the mean demand
scenario; and
OTC was made unavailable during this scenario and the next critical contingency
was modelled.

The results showed that there was a margin of 210MW or about 9% of demand. The
critical contingency was the HLY_TAK_OTA_1 transmission line and the voltage collapse
was centred north of Auckland.

Voltage
Collapse
Point
210MW

Fig 1.10: PV graph of OTA220kV (Red) and KEN33kV (Blue) during the contingency of
HLY_TAK_OTA_1 with OTC out and summer demand.
CONCLUSIONS
In order to understand the analysis on voltage stability contained within the SOO,
Meridian looked at what was probably the worse case scenario for Aucklands security of
supply; the Large Hydro Scenario 2016. This scenario has only 150MW of wind
generation north of Auckland.
Meridian was interested in the voltage stability limits for the three demand scenarios, low,
mean and high, as well as considering summer load demand with Otahuhu B unavailable
and with Huntly output reduced by river heating.
The results of our preliminary studies into these five scenarios are outlined below:

Low demand
scenario

Additional
capacitors

Critical voltage
at OTA

P Margin

Q Margin

0MVar

0.96pu

220MW

300MVar

Medium
demand
scenario

330MVar

0.98pu

140MW

190MVar

High demand
scenario

620MVar

0.99pu

150MW

270MVar

Summer HLY
river heating
scenario

330MVar

0.98pu

230MW

330MVar

Summer OTC
outage

330MVar

0.93pu

210MW

305MVar

Table 1.1: Voltage stability summary results for the five scenarios modelled.
Our analysis revealed that for the particular situations studied, for all the
demand/contingent generation scenarios the n-1 security standard was met (in a thermal
sense) and there was a 5% margin for voltage stability (that is, there was at least a 5%
difference between the peak regional demand and the point at which static voltage
collapse would occur).
However, the results also demonstrated that the effectiveness of the voltage support
diminishes as demand increases. For example, 1 MVar of capacitance would result in 0.76
MW of increased power transfer in the low demand scenario. However for the high
demand scenario 1 MVar of capacitance only increases power transfer of 0.55 MW. This
shows that as the demand increases in Auckland, the effectiveness of the voltage support
solution reduces, thus become less economic rapidly.
Also, it has become apparent from the modelling that as more and more voltage support is
added, combined with transmission reaching its capacity, the pre contingent operating
voltages around the Auckland region will have to be higher. This is because the point at
which voltage becomes unstable increases.
Thus, where the EGR Part C PPO's require the system operator to operate within the
voltages ranges of +/- 10% on the 220 kV and 110 kV systems, with the increasing limit
of voltage stability it may only be possible to operate in the top 10% of the range,
otherwise voltage collapse could occur.
Our modelling indicated that the critical voltages reached are in the order of 0.98 to 0.99
p.u (which is -2% to -1% of nominal voltage). A margin would need to be maintained
above this at all times. As a result, over voltages would become a problem if sufficient
dynamic voltage support equipment (SVC's & condensors) are not provided.
Meridian is concerned that the impact of these technology fixes are considered in light of
the Commissions principle objective, and more generally other outcomes sought by the
Government order the GPS (eg nationwide retail competition).