An Overview of

Electrical Power Systems

Bill Rosehart, P.Eng, PhD

Dean, Schulich School of Engineering

University of Calgary

March 2015

3
The function of Power Systems is to convert energy
from other forms to electricity and distribute it to the
consumers.

Source: Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov/.../electricity/electricity.html)

Traditional Power Systems have three main components:

1. Generation
2. Transmission
3. Distribution (Load)
 Electrical Generation

1. Thermal (Coal, Gas)

2. Nuclear
3. Hydro
4. Wind
5. Solar
 Transmission

AC Transmission networks are normally meshed

and we can not directly control which path
electrical power will take from generation to load.
Distribution and Load
 Drivers of Change

Electricity Markets

Going Green

From Coal to Gas

 Electricity Markets
Over the last 15 to 20 years, there has been
considerable activity in the power sector due to the
transition from vertically integrated companies to
restructured markets.

Electricity is now considered a commodity in many

regions around the world (For example in Alberta,
generation is competitive).
 Albertas Power System
Generation:
~16,174 MW installed capacity.
~39% coal, ~44% gas, and ~9% wind.
Majority of Energy still from coal.
Interties to BC, SK, Montana

Transmission:
~24,000 km (69kV to 500kV)
Mostly owned by AltaLink and ATCO
Electric.

Peak demand: 11,139 MW (2013)

Distribution: 165,000 km of distribution lines

Generally less than 69kV

Source: EUB
 Going Green

Environmental impacts,
including green house gas
emissions and transmission
expansion, have become
major issues in power system
planning and operation.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_Inconvenient_Truth_Film_Poster.jpg
Poster Design: The Ant Farm
 Wind Power Integration
Alberta has tremendous wind generation potential

Wind power is uncertain and non-dispatchable resource

Power systems have technical limitations in absorbing too

much non-dispatched energy

Can not control where the wind blows

 From Coal to Gas

AESO 2013 Long-term Transmission Plan

http://www.aeso.ca/downloads/AESO_2013_Long-termTransmissionPlan_Web.pdf