AN OPTIMAL REACTIVE POWER PLANNING STRATEGY AGAINST VOLTAGE COLLAPSE

This paper introduces a method of determining the minimum amount of sh unt reactive power (VAr) support which indirectly maximizes the real p ower transfer before voltage collapse is encountered. Using a relaxati on strategy that operates with a predictor-corrector/optimization sche me, a voltage stability index that serves as an indirect measure to th e closeness of reaching the steady state voltage stability limits is o btained. Sensitivity information that identifies weak buses is also av ailable for locating effective VAr injection sites.