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Integrating Wind Energy into the Electric Grid

Wind Power ForumOctober 26, 2011

Brian Conroy, Electric System EngineeringCentral Maine Power Company

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•The Electric Grid

•The Grid Control Center

•Attributes of Wind Generation

•New England Wind Resources

Integrating Wind Energy into the Electric Grid

Presentation Outline

The Electric Grid

The Grid Control Center

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Attributes of Wind Generation

• Variability – plant output fluctuates

• Uncertainty – output and timing are less predictable than ‘conventional’ generation

• Remote locations from network “backbone”

• Distributed control systems

Electric utilities and control centers take all these factors into account when planning, designing, and operating interconnections with wind generation.

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Significant wind potential with varying characteristics exists throughout New England

1 meter per second roughly 2.2 mph

MWH

New England Wind Resources

Source: Levitan Phase II Wind Study for ISO New England

Spring 2009, ISO New England Inc.

LegendClass 7 >8.8 (m/s)

Class 6 8-8.8 (m/s)

Class 5 7.5-8 (m/s)

Class 4 7-7.5 (m/s)

Class 3 6.4-7 (m/s)40 Miles

230 kV

345 kV

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Higher class Wind resource and 40 mile radius of Backbone

transmissionBase Case Results –Onshore

Region MW Avg. Wind (m/s)

CT 0 -ME 7,904 7.79 MA 929 7.65* NEMA 0 -SEMA 765 7.62 WCMA 164 7.80 NH 3,221 7.96RI 141 7.74VT 2,830 7.68Total 15,025 7.80*

Source: Levitan Phase II Wind Study for ISO New England

New England Wind Resources

Thank You!