Long-term load forecasting and economical operation of wind farms for Egyptian electrical network

Several traditional methods have been presented for long-term load forecasting of electrical power systems without sufficient accuracy of the relevant results. In this paper, in order to improve the results accuracy, the artificial neural network (ANN) technique for long-term peak load forecasting is modified and proposed as an alternative technique in long-term load forecasting. The modified technique is applied on the Egyptian electrical network dependent on its historical data to predict the electrical peak load demand forecasting up to year 2017. This technique is compared with extrapolation of trend curves as a traditional method. Installed power generation capacities of Egyptian electrical network up to year 2017 are estimated dependent on the peak load forecasting of this network. Also, a proposed methodology to assess the economical operation of the wind farms (WFs) beside the conventional power system (CPS) is introduced. This methodology includes a mathematical model to develop the economical operation of wind farms on the whole power generation capacity through a considered period. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.