Innovative decision making support tool for the optimization of the grid elements outage plan in the Italian transmission system

The paper focuses on a decision making automatic support tool designed to define the maintenance plan of several grid elements minimizing the costs on the markets while preserving operational security, taking into account reserve constraints, as well as work scheduling needs and/or preferences. The problem is decomposed in two sub-problems: one deals with management constraints and uses a heuristic algorithm (Tabu search), in the other a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming algorithm resolves a constrained linear optimization problem (OPF) that includes Unit Commitment. Results, on the Italian 380–220 kV Network, show that the tool is able to elaborate a plan of about 100 outages on 380 kV on a time horizon of one year with good quality sub-optimal solution. Hence the tool fits well with the need of draw up the Year-Ahead Outage Plan, required by Italian Network Code and by Outage Planning and Scheduling European Guidelines (under-development).