Introduction

In the intricate and constantly evolving landscape of modern electrical grids, the ability to maintain a delicate balance between electricity supply and demand is paramount for ensuring reliability, stability, and economic efficiency. Power System Dispatching is the nerve center of grid operations, involving the real-time control and coordination of generation, transmission, and sometimes distribution assets to meet dynamic load requirements, manage grid constraints, and respond to contingencies. This complex task relies heavily on accurate Load Forecasting, which predicts future electricity demand across various time horizons – from short-term (minutes ahead) for real-time dispatch to long-term (years ahead) for infrastructure planning. The increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources, distributed generation, and evolving consumer behaviors has made these functions more challenging and critical than ever before. Without sophisticated Power System Dispatching and Load Forecasting, utilities face immense challenges in maintaining grid reliability, optimizing market operations, and integrating the diverse energy sources that define the modern power sector. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master Power System Dispatching and Load Forecasting.

This training course is meticulously designed to empower power system operators, dispatchers, energy traders, system planners, data analysts, and electrical engineers with the theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary to perform effective Power System Dispatching and Load Forecasting. Participants will gain a deep understanding of grid operational principles, explore various forecasting methodologies (statistical, AI/ML-based), learn about the tools and technologies used in modern control centers, and acquire hands-on experience in optimizing generation schedules and managing transmission congestion. The course will delve into topics such as unit commitment, economic dispatch, ancillary services, renewable energy forecasting challenges, market design principles for dispatch, and the role of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence in enhancing forecasting and dispatch capabilities. By mastering the principles and practical application of Power System Dispatching and Load Forecasting, participants will be prepared to optimize grid operations, enhance system resilience, facilitate the integration of diverse energy resources, and contribute significantly to building the advanced and sustainable power systems of the future.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Power System Operators and Dispatchers
• Energy Traders and Market Analysts
• Power System Planners (Transmission and Generation)
• Electrical Engineers (Power Systems)
• Renewable Energy Integrators
• Data Scientists and Analysts in the Energy Sector
• SCADA/EMS Engineers
• Utility Control Center Personnel
• Regulatory Compliance Professionals
• Researchers in Power Systems

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles of power system operation and control.
• Learn about the roles and responsibilities of power system dispatchers in real-time operations.
• Acquire skills in applying various load forecasting methodologies across different time horizons.
• Comprehend techniques for optimizing generation schedules through Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch.
• Explore strategies for managing transmission system constraints and congestion.
• Understand the importance of ancillary services for grid stability and reliability.
• Gain insights into market design principles that influence dispatch decisions.
• Develop a practical understanding of integrating renewable energy sources into grid operations.
• Learn about the technologies and tools used in modern Energy Management Systems (EMS).
• Master the principles of outage coordination and emergency operations.
• Acquire skills in using data analytics and artificial intelligence for enhanced forecasting.
• Understand the economic implications of dispatch decisions and market operations.
• Explore cybersecurity considerations for control center operations.
• Develop proficiency in interpreting real-time grid data for effective decision-making.
• Prepare to optimize power system dispatch and forecasting for a resilient and efficient grid.

Course Content

Module 1: Fundamentals of Power System Operation

• Overview of power system components: generation, transmission, distribution.
• Key objectives of power system operation: reliability, security, economy, environmental.
• Balancing supply and demand in real-time.
• Understanding frequency and voltage control.
• Role of the System Operator/Independent System Operator (ISO)/Regional Transmission Organization (RTO).

Module 2: Introduction to Power System Dispatching

• Role and responsibilities of a power system dispatcher.
• Control center environment and operational tools.
• Real-time monitoring and control of the grid.
• Communication protocols and operational procedures.
• Understanding the human element in dispatching.

Module 3: Introduction to Load Forecasting

• Definition and importance of load forecasting for power systems.
• Time horizons of forecasting: short-term, medium-term, long-term.
• Factors influencing electricity demand: weather, economic, calendar, social.
• Challenges of forecasting in a changing energy landscape.
• Key performance indicators for forecast accuracy.

Module 4: Short-Term Load Forecasting Methodologies

• Statistical methods: time series analysis (ARIMA, Exponential Smoothing).
• Regression analysis for load forecasting.
• Neural Networks and Machine Learning approaches for short-term prediction.
• Data preprocessing for load forecasting.
• Evaluating and comparing forecasting models.

Module 5: Medium- and Long-Term Load Forecasting

• Methodologies for medium-term forecasting (weeks to months ahead).
• Long-term forecasting techniques for infrastructure planning (years ahead).
• Incorporating economic growth, population trends, and technology adoption.
• Scenario planning for uncertain future conditions.
• Role of distributed energy resources (DERs) in long-term load forecasting.

Module 6: Generation Scheduling: Unit Commitment (UC)

• Principles of Unit Commitment: bringing generators online/offline efficiently.
• Constraints in UC: minimum up/down times, ramp rates, start-up costs.
• Optimization techniques for UC (e.g., dynamic programming, mixed integer programming).
• Impact of renewable energy variability on UC.
• Software tools for UC.

Module 7: Economic Dispatch (ED)

• Principles of Economic Dispatch: allocating load among online generators.
• Minimizing total fuel cost while meeting demand and constraints.
• Incremental heat rates and production costs.
• Lagrange multipliers and iterative methods for ED.
• Impact of transmission losses on ED.

Module 8: Transmission System Operation and Congestion Management

• Understanding transmission network characteristics: power flow, stability.
• Identifying transmission constraints (thermal, voltage, stability limits).
• Congestion management techniques: re-dispatch, counter-trading, curtailment.
• Role of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices.
• Operational security analysis (contingency analysis).

Module 9: Ancillary Services and Grid Reliability

• Definition and types of ancillary services: frequency regulation, spinning reserve, non-spinning reserve, voltage support.
• How ancillary services maintain grid stability and reliability.
• Market mechanisms for procuring ancillary services.
• Role of energy storage in providing ancillary services.
• Measuring and monitoring grid performance metrics (SAIDI, SAIFI).

Module 10: Integration of Renewable Energy Sources

• Challenges of integrating intermittent renewables: solar, wind.
• Forecasting renewable energy output.
• Impact of variability and uncertainty on dispatch.
• Curtailment of renewables.
• Grid flexibility solutions: demand response, energy storage.

Module 11: Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Control Center Technologies

• Architecture and functions of a modern EMS.
• SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) for real-time data.
• Advanced Applications: State Estimator, Power Flow, Contingency Analysis, Optimal Power Flow.
• Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design for dispatchers.
• Data historians and archiving.

Module 12: Outage Coordination and Emergency Operations

• Planning and coordinating planned outages (maintenance).
• Managing forced outages and emergency response.
• Blackout prevention strategies.
• System restoration procedures after a widespread outage.
• Communication protocols during emergencies.

Module 13: Power Market Design and Operation

• Introduction to different market models: bilateral, pool, hybrid.
• Role of Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs).
• Wholesale electricity market mechanisms: day-ahead, real-time markets.
• Pricing mechanisms: Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP).
• Impact of market rules on dispatch decisions.

Module 14: Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Dispatch/Forecasting

• Big data analytics for load and renewable forecasting.
• Machine Learning for improved forecasting accuracy.
• AI applications in optimal power flow and grid control.
• Cognitive load forecasting and dispatch.
• Cybersecurity for advanced control systems.

Module 15: Future Trends in Power System Dispatching

• Role of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS).
• Transactive energy systems and peer-to-peer trading.
• Blockchain applications in energy markets.
• Increased automation and autonomous grid operations.
• Challenges and opportunities for the future of dispatching.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.