National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Wind Research — Wind Systems Integration
News
December 9, 2008
Extra-High-Voltage Line from AEP Would Connect Wind-Rich Dakotas
American Electric Power is evaluating the feasibility of building a multi-state, extra-high-voltage transmission project across the Upper Midwest.
December 9, 2008
Colorado Study Confirms Low Grid Integration Costs for Wind
A new study released this week once again adds to the body of peer-reviewed literature confirming that the cost of integrating wind energy with the electric grid is quite low.
December 2, 2008
Spanish Wind Power Hits Record 43% of Demand
Renewable energy has boomed in recent years in Spain, as the country tries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its heavy dependence on fuel imports. Spain is also saving large sums of money in the process.
November 11, 2008
Puget Sound Energy Files to Pass on Wind Financial Benefits to Customers
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) wants to reduce its customers’ bills thanks to the high performance of wind power on its system.
October 28, 2008
Wind, Other New Generation Creating Crucial Need for Transmission: NERC Report
“We need more transmission resources to maintain reliability and achieve environmental goals,” said Rick Sergel, president and CEO of NERC.
September 9, 2008
FERC Approves MISO Queue Reforms
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally approved queue reforms proposed by the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO).
September 9, 2008
ITC Selected for Two Sections of 765-kV Kansas Transmission Project
Transmission company to build two of the three sections that will comprise the 765-kV “Kansas V-Plan” transmission project .
August 19, 2008
AEP, Duke Transmission Joint Venture in Indiana would Link 3,000 MW of Wind
Joint venture to build and operate 240 miles of extra-high-voltage, 765-kV Indiana transmission lines.
August 14, 2008
DOE to Invest in Grid Integration Systems for Solar Energy
DOE announced that it plans to invest up to $24 million to develop products that connect solar power systems with the electrical grid in an interactive way.
July 23, 2008
Texas $4.9 Billion Transmission Plan to Tap Wind
The Public Utility Commission of Texas’s (PUCT’s) July 17 approved a $4.9 billion plan to build more than 2,300 miles of new 345-kV transmission lines that will link vast and largely untapped wind energy resources in northern and western Texas.
July 23, 2008
AWEA, Wind on the Wires Support Midwest ISO Queue Reforms
AWEA regional partner Wind on the Wires (WOW) and AWEA filed comments with the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) supporting the general direction of interconnection queue reforms proposed by the Midwest Independent System Operator (ISO).
July 9, 2008
ERCOT Completes Test Run of Nodal Real-Time Market
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) recently completed a live run of its pending nodal real-time market.
June 24, 2008
Southwest Power Pool Approves Base Funding for Designated Wind Projects
The Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP’s) Regional State Committee voted unanimously to allow for a more equitable funding mechanism for transmission line upgrades and additions associated with certain wind projects.
June 24, 2008
FERC Approves NYISO Plan for Wind Forecasting, Under-Generation Exemptions
A move intended to encourage the development of wind and other renewables as well as integrate them more effectively into the resource mix.
June 18, 2008
Poll: Transmission Big Barrier To Wind Development
Transmission issues and federal policy are the greatest barriers to the development of wind energy in the U.S.
June 11, 2008
New Report Finds the United States Leading in Wind Power Growth
Domestic wind installations continue to grow at record rates for 2007.
June 11, 2008
DOE to Identify Western Transmission Needs for Renewable Energy
DOE announced last week that it will work with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) to identify areas in the West with substantial renewable energy resources and to expedite the development and delivery of that energy to meet regional energy needs.
June 3, 2008
New Wind Power Partnerships to Benefit Industry and Nation
NREL has announced several projects that will enhance the nation’s ability to realize the full potential of wind power across the United States, including a new wind turbine blade test facility to be constructed in Texas; a partnership between NREL, DOE, and a state consortium led by University of Houston; a just-signed agreement with Siemens Power Generation to locate and test a commercial-scale wind turbine at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center; and, a new Siemens research and development facility in Boulder, Colo., which will work closely with NREL on advanced wind power technologies.
April 23, 2008
FERC Approves Transmission Incentive Requests
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved transmission incentive requests for two projects slated to improve reliability of the nation's interstate transmission system.
March 18, 2008
Why the Texas Reliability Event on February 26, 2008 Raises No Concerns About Much Higher Wind Penetration
On February 26, 2008, a drop in frequency on Texas' transmission grid caused the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to put in place an Emergency Electric Curtailment Plan. The event was reported in some media outlets as having been caused by a sudden drop in output from wind projects. The American Wind Energy Association has pulled together important background information and highlights from the report issued by ERCOT on the event. This provides both perspective on the event and insights into the issues going forward.
February 8, 2008
NREL, 3TIER Join To Conduct Wind Integration Study
3TIER, an independent provider of wind, solar and hydro energy assessment and power forecasting, was chosen by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct the largest-scale wind integration study ever undertaken, according to the company.
February 6, 2008
Montana Alberta Tie Receives Final Canadian Approval
Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. (MATL) has received final Canadian approval to build and operate a 346 kilometer, 230 kV alternating current power line from Lethbridge, Alberta, to Great Falls, Montana.
January 16, 2008
Report: Electric Utilities Investing Billions in Transmission
The U.S. electric utility industry invested $6.9 billion in transmission projects in 2006, and members of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) plan to invest another $38.1 billion from 2007 to 2010, according to a new EEI report.