Voltage Stability Assessment with Path-Coupled Load Growth and Corrective Generator Response

Abstract

Voltage stability margin assessment is essential for the secure operation of renewable-dominated power systems. Conventional continuation-based methods evaluate the margin along predefined load-growth paths with fixed generator partic- ipation, while practical operation allows generators to be redis- patched to alleviate voltage stress and reshape the power-flow trajectory as the system approaches voltage collapse. This paper proposes a path-coupled margin assessment approach that incor- porates corrective generator response into static voltage stability margin assessment. In the proposed approach, the load-growth direction and generator response direction are simultaneously determined at each continuation step, enabling the assessment trajectory to account for generator response while tracing the system toward voltage collapse. The voltage stability margin is then evaluated by the cumulative active load increase along this coupled trajectory. Based on the obtained trajectory and collapse point, a feasible redispatch direction is further derived to improve the margin of the current operating state. The economic cost of voltage stability enhancement is quantified through a marginal stability cost, providing an economic indicator for additional sta- bility support. Case studies on various test systems demonstrate that the proposed framework can effectively capture the impact of corrective generator redispatch on voltage stability assessment, provide effective guidance for margin enhancement, and quantify the cost associated with voltage stability improvement.