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The optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem plays a key role in daily power system operations. This paper presents a novel multi-period approach for the ORPD that takes into account three operative goals. These consist of minimizing total voltage deviations from set point values of pilot nodes and maneuvers on transformers taps and reactive power compensators. The ORPD is formulated in GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) software as a mixed integer nonlinear programming problem, comprising both continuous and discrete control variables, and is solved using the BONMIN solver. The most outstanding benefit of the proposed ORPD model is the fact that it allows optimal reactive power control throughout a multi-period horizon, guaranteeing compliance with the programmed active power dispatch. Additionally, the minimization of maneuvers on reactors and capacitor banks contributes to preserving the useful life of these devices. Furthermore, the selection of pilot nodes for voltage control reduces the computational burden and allows the algorithm to provide fast solutions. The results of the IEEE 118 bus test system show the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Currently, optimization models for the safe and reliable operation of power systems deal with two major challenges: the first one is the reduction of the computational load when considering N−1 contingencies; the second one is the adequate modeling of the uncertainty of intermittent generation and demand. This paper proposes a new affinely adjustable robust model to solve the security constrained unit commitment problem considering these sources of uncertainty. Linear decision rules, which take into account the forecasts and forecast errors of the different sources of uncertainty, are used for the affine formulation of the dispatch variables, thus allowing the tractability of the model. Another major novelty is that the evaluation of the N−1 security constraints is performed by incorporating a novel method, proposed in the literature, based on the user-cuts concept. This method efficiently and dynamically adds only the binding N−1 security constraints, increasing the computational efficiency of the model when transmission line contingencies are considered. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations on the post-optimization results were run to demonstrate the effectiveness, feasibility and robustness of the solutions provided by the proposed model.