Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marten Ovaere and Stef Proost Title: Optimal Electricity Transmission Reliability: Going Beyond the N-1 Criterion Classification-JEL: F0 Volume: Volume 39 Issue: Number 4 Year: 2018 Abstract: In the presence of transmission outages, uncertain demand and variable renewable supply, network operators keep a reliability margin to avoid interruptions and black-outs. The reliability margin is presently determined by the N-1 reliability criterion. Our analytical model defines the optimal reliability margin by balancing congestion costs and interruption costs. This leads to more efficient use of transmission capacity and to smaller investment needs than with the N-1 criterion. A numerical illustration shows the net benefits of the new reliability criterion. Handle: RePEc:aen:journl:ej39-4-OvaereProost File-URL: http://www.iaee.org/en/publications/ejarticle.aspx?id=3108 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to IAEE members and subscribers.