Distributed Wind Generation Study for Northeast Colorado
Distributed Wind Generation Study for Northeast Colorado
Date: 12/1/2005
Location: CO
The Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America program commissioned the "Distributed Wind Generation Study for Northeast Colorado (PDF 1.9 MB) Download Adobe Reader" by Wind Utility Consulting. The purpose of the study is to determine the ability to interconnect large wind turbines to a typical distribution system in northeastern Colorado. The Highline Electric Association's (HEA's) distribution grid was used for the study. HEA provided design and operating data on its electric system. This data included maps showing locations of all of its facilities, conductor sizes, transformer sizes, transmission system data, and electric load data by substation and feeder. The consultants evaluated 17 of HEA's load-serving distribution substations in Colorado that are connected to 69-kV or 115-kV transmission lines.
Three scenarios were evaluated in this study. The first scenario analysis determined the distance from each of the substations that a single GE 1.5-MW wind turbine could be connected to the main sections of the 3-phase feeders without creating unacceptable levels of flicker or other power quality problems. A second scenario analysis determined that up to 63 GE 1.5-MW wind turbines, or 94.5 MW, could collectively be added to the 17 existing substation distribution grids without causing power quality problems or overloading conductors or substation transformers. A third analysis was performed to project which types of distribution system reinforcements might be economically viable for increasing the number of connected wind turbines.
From a practical point of view and in general, using the existing distribution system may be economical if the amount of wind generation being added is in the range of perhaps one to five wind turbines at a particular location or area.
This information was last updated on August 09, 2011