THE BEST WAYS TO CONNECT WIND AND SUN

Wind integration best practices report underscores industry experience, knowledge

December 7, 2012 (Wind Energy Weekly)

“…Review of Industry Practice and Experience in the Integration of Wind and Solar Generation…[examines] a number of scenarios for various levels and combinations of penetrations of various technologies including solar and land-based and offshore wind [on the electricity grid].

“…[It] provides [for Mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM Interconnection LLC] with a comprehensive look at the best approaches for integrating wind and solar power, based on an examination of operations and processes being implemented around the country and the world. The report covers energy scheduling, imbalances, reserves, contingency reserves, wind and solar forecasting, active power management and determining the capacity value of variable generation.”

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“…[A long list of studies have shown] that large amounts of wind power can be reliably integrated, and now a base of real-world experience is turning such assessments into reality…Countries such as Spain and Denmark, which crossed the 20 percent wind threshold several years ago, have high wind penetrations and, even in the U.S., individual states have achieved such numbers, led by Iowa (nearly 19 percent as of the end of 2011) and South Dakota (22 percent)…

“…[T]he report looks at operational and regulatory practices (e.g., wind forecasting, scheduling, and so forth) in top wind power-penetration countries including Denmark and Spain as well…”

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