Medium-Term Load Forecasting Using Support Vector Regression, Feature Selection, and Symbiotic Organism Search Optimization

An accurate load forecasting has always been one of the main indispensable parts in the operation and planning of power systems. Among different time horizons of forecasting, while short-term load forecasting (STLF) and long-term load forecasting (LTLF) have respectively got benefits of accurate predictors and probabilistic forecasting, medium-term load forecasting (MTLF) demands more attention due to its vital role in power system operation and planning such as optimal scheduling of generation units, robust planning program for customer service, and economic supply. In this study, a hybrid method, composed of Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Symbiotic Organism Search Optimization (SOSO) method, is proposed for MTLF. In the proposed forecasting model, SVR is the main part of the forecasting algorithm while SOSO is embedded into it to optimize the parameters of SVR. In addition, a minimum redundancy-maximum relevance feature selection algorithm is used to in the preprocessing of input data. The proposed method is tested on EUNITE competition dataset to demonstrate its proper performance. Furthermore, it is compared with some previous works to show eligibility of our method.

Weather Forecasting Error in Solar Energy Forecasting

As renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) penetrate the power grid at an accelerating speed, it is essential for operators to have accurate solar photovoltaic (PV) energy forecasting for efficient operations and planning. Generally, observed weather data are applied in the solar PV generation forecasting model while in practice the energy forecasting is based on forecasted weather data. In this paper, a study on the uncertainty in weather forecasting for the most commonly used weather variables is presented. The forecasted weather data for six days ahead is compared with the observed data and the results of analysis are quantified by statistical metrics. In addition, the most influential weather predictors in energy forecasting model are selected. The performance of historical and observed weather data errors is assessed using a solar PV generation forecasting model. Finally, a sensitivity test is performed to identify the influential weather variables whose accurate values can significantly improve the results of energy forecasting.

On the Performance of Forecasting Models in the Presence of Input Uncertainty

Nowadays, with the unprecedented penetration of renewable distributed energy resources (DERs), the necessity of an efficient energy forecasting model is more demanding than before. Generally, forecasting models are trained using observed weather data while the trained models are applied for energy forecasting using forecasted weather data. In this study, the performance of several commonly used forecasting methods in the presence of weather predictors with uncertainty is assessed and compared. Accordingly, both observed and forecasted weather data are collected, then the influential predictors for solar PV generation forecasting model are selected using several measures. Using observed and forecasted weather data, an analysis on the uncertainty of weather variables is represented by MAE and bootstrapping. The energy forecasting model is trained using observed weather data, and finally, the performance of several commonly used forecasting methods in solar energy forecasting is simulated and compared for a real case study.

Reliability Assessment of Distribution System Using Fuzzy Logic for Modelling of Transformer and Line Uncertainties

Reliability assessment of distribution system, based on historical data and probabilistic methods, leads to an unreliable estimation of reliability indices since the data for the distribution components are usually inaccurate or unavailable. Fuzzy logic is an efficient method to deal with the uncertainty in reliability inputs. In this paper, the ENS index along with other commonly used indices in reliability assessment are evaluated for the distribution system using fuzzy logic. Accordingly, the influential variables on the failure rate and outage duration time of the distribution components, which are natural or human-made, are explained using proposed fuzzy membership functions. The reliability indices are calculated and compared for different cases of the system operations by simulation on the IEEE RBTS Bus 2. The results of simulation show how utilities can significantly improve the reliability of their distribution system by considering the risk of the influential variables.