Nebraska Wind Integration Study
NREL's Wind Systems Integration team worked with the Nebraska Power Association to conduct a state-wide wind integration study. The study evaluates wind penetrations up to 40% of annual electric energy demand in Nebraska and the rest of the Southwest Power Pool. It was initiated in 2008 to advance the understanding of the impact of wind energy on system operations using synchronized wind and load data and state-of-the-art analysis techniques.
This work is a result of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Program and NREL's interest in advancing the understanding of wind integration impacts in the Western Area Power Administration's service area and among consumer-owned electric power cooperatives. The Nebraska Power Association, whose utilities are customers of the Western Area Power Administration, received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy through NREL for funding to conduct the state-wide wind integration study. The Nebraska Power Association is a voluntary organization that represents many segments of the Nebraska power industry including: municipalities, public power districts, public power and irrigation districts, and cooperatives engaged in generation, transmission, and/or distribution of electric energy in the nation's only totally public power state.
Wind generation resources in Nebraska will play an increasingly important role in the environmental and energy security solutions for the state and the nation. The Nebraska Power Association utilities recognized the growing need for a specific study of wind generation in the state. This Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study provides that initial study.
This Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study will help Nebraska implement wind energy in an intelligent manner, while maintaining Nebraska's success in operating a reliable and economical electrical system and achieving the diversity of a significant state-wide renewable portfolio.
Main Tasks
- Model/Characterize the Wind Power Resources
- Wind sites were selected from the NREL mesoscale database. This is the same source of data that was used for selection of wind sites in the Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission study.
- Wind Integration Analysis
- Evaluated the impact of wind energy on system operations using synchronized wind and load data and state-of-the-art analysis techniques.
- Performed three full years of hourly production simulations.
- Identified system impacts including incremental reserves and integration costs.
- Developed Key Findings and Conclusions
Four base scenarios of wind penetrations were studied with variations of Nebraska Power Association (NPA) wind, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) wind, and extra-high voltage (EHV):
- 10% NPA wind, 10% SPP wind, without SPP EHV Overlay
- 20% NPA wind, 20% SPP wind, without SPP EHV Overlay
- 20% NPA wind, 20% SPP wind, SPP EHV Overlay
- 40% NPA wind, 40% SPP wind, SPP EHV Overlay
The Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through the DOE Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Federal funding and support for this study was matched by the Nebraska Power Association. The analysis was done by EnerNex Corporation and Ventyx. The study report was prepared by EnerNex, Ventyx, and the Nebraska Power Association. The Nebraska Power Association provided project management and oversight to the study consultants. A Technical Review Committee consisting or technical experts, interested parties, consultants, and utility personnel met seven times over the course of the study.
More Information
Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study: Executive Summary. (March 2010). EnerNex Corporation; Ventyx; Nebraska Power Association.
Nebraska Statewide Wind Integration Study. (March 2010). EnerNex Corporation; Ventyx; Nebraska Power Association.
