Deregulation and restructuring in the electric power industry is resulting in many new players attempting to utilize the high voltage electric transmission system. Transmission system capacity is limited due to a number of different mechanisms including: (1) transmission line thermal limits; ( 2) bus voltage limits; (3) transient stability constraints; and (4) the need to maintain system voltage stability. Presently, a number of useful tools exist to access the first three constraints. In this project, PowerWorld Corp. Inc. will develop a new software tool, which utilizes a path independent model for voltage stability assessment using energy method approaches. Advantages of energy methods include path independence, ability to provide measures of voltage stability in particular regions and potential for relatively low computational requirements.
