FERC Proposes Rule For Wind Power Interconnection

FERC Proposes Rule For Wind Power Interconnection

May 05 - Power Engineering

Wind-generated power is a growing source of electric generation in the United States. The intermittency of wind, and the fact that wind is often plentiful in remote locations, however, make it difficult to integrate wind-generated electricity into the nation's transmission grid. "Wind changes often and the changes are hard to predict," Peter Hirseh, a project manager with EPRl, said at the recent POWER-GEN Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition held in Las Vegas. "Wind's unpredictability makes it hard for grid operators to know how much energy from other sources is needed."

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is taking steps to eliminate wind energy's interconnection issues. On January 19, 2005, FERC proposed regulations that would remove barriers to wind- generated electricity while helping ensure continued reliability of the national power grid. This proposed regulation is known as the Wind NOPR (notice of proposed rulemaking).

In 2003, the FERC adopted standard procedures for the interconnection of generation facilities larger than 20 MW (Order No. 2003). The rule set uniform procedures that a transmission provider and an interconnection requester must follow throughout the interconnection process, including legal rights and obligations of the parties, cost responsibility, milestones for the project's completion and a process for resolving disputes.

Employing standard procedures and interconnection agreements reduces interconnection time and costs, helps preserve reliability and lowers wholesale prices for the nations' customers, the FERC said. The Wind NOPR on interconnections was designed to further these goals and help expand the diversity of energy supplies.

The interconnection procedures adopted in Order No. 2003 are tailored to more traditional power generation sources. The Wind NOPR would include certain technical requirements that transmission providers must apply to interconnection service for wind generation plants. These requirements would be applied in addition to the standard interconnection procedures adopted in Order No. 2003.

The Commission's latest proposal would require wind plants to demonstrate the ability to continue operation even if a low voltage condition is experienced on the grid, Io stabilize voltage levels and help the transmission grid stay in balance. Wind-powered facilities further would be required to have supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) capability to ensure real-time communication with transmission providers. According to Mike Garland of Babcock and Brown, an investment firm with wind interests, reactive power and voltage control are big issues when developers are trying to obtain financing for wind projects. "Performance requirements, including availability requirements, keep getting tougher, which is scary for financers," Garland said. "Utilities want wind generators to act like gas turbine generators when it comes to availability. This is not realistic."

The Commission recognized that the standard procedures adopted in Order No. 2003 were designed around the needs of traditional synchronous generation facilities. The Commission exempted wind plants from certain requirements in that order and said it would issue these later proposed requirements adapted to the special characteristics of wind energy.

Comments on the proposed rulemaking, Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative Technologies, were to be submitted to the FERC's Office of the Secretary by March 2, 2005 and reply comments were scheduled for April 1, 2005.

TERESA HANSEN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR