Document Type : Review article
Author
Department of Electrical Engineering, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract
The significance of transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) in a restructured power system is underscored by the urgent need to integrate renewable energy sources. As the world shifts towards sustainability, effective transmission planning becomes critical for accommodating diverse energy sources, particularly wind and solar, which are frequently situated far from consumption centers. This integration is not only essential for achieving sustainability goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also for ensuring a reliable and efficient power supply. Moreover, strategic transmission planning plays a vital role in minimizing congestion within the network, which can escalate costs and compromise reliability. By anticipating future demand and generation patterns especially the intermittent nature of renewables planners can optimize the placement of transmission lines and substations to mitigate potential bottlenecks. In a competitive market, a resilient transmission infrastructure is crucial for providing equitable access to all market participants, thereby fostering innovation and competition. Additionally, effective planning must address regulatory requirements and stakeholder interests, promoting transparency and collaboration among various entities in the power sector. This comprehensive approach not only ensures compliance but also builds public trust in the energy system. In summary, developing an efficient transmission network is imperative for supporting a reliable, competitive, and sustainable power system that prioritizes renewable energy sources. This paper aims to provide an overview of the challenges ahead in TNEP while proposing necessary solutions to effectively address these challenges.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
❖ Transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) is vital for reliability in restructured power systems.
❖ Effective TNEP integrates renewable energy sources, supporting sustainability and reducing emissions.
❖ Proper transmission planning minimizes congestion, optimizing infrastructure for future demand and generation.
❖ A robust transmission network fosters competition, resilience, and public trust in the energy sector's evolution.
Keywords
Declaration of competing interest
The author declare that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The ethical issues, including plagiarism, informed consent, misconduct, data fabrication and/or falsification, double publication and/or submission, redundancy, have been completely observed by the author.
Credit Authorship Contribution Statement
Abdollah Rastgo: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization.
Bibliography
Abdollah Rastgo holds a Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. degree in Power Electrical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor's degree at Tabriz University and went on to earn both his Master's and Ph.D. degrees with honors from Kurdistan University in Sanandaj. Dr. Rastgou has a keen interest in power system planning, bi-level planning, and renewable resource planning. His academic journey reflects a strong commitment to advancing the field of electrical engineering, particularly in optimizing power systems for sustainability and efficiency.
Citation
A. Rastgou, "Challenges Ahead in Transmission Network Expansion Planning in The Presence of Renewable Energy Sources; An Updated Review," Journal of Green Energy Research and Innovation, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 48-67, 2025.