Applications in Wind Power Interconnection

This course is recognized by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation ("NERC") as an approved learning activity for which NERC Continuing Education ("CE") hours can be awarded.  Pterra adheres to NERC Continuing Education Program Criteria.  

Description

Wind power is an emerging resource in electric power systems. However, harnessing this energy and interconnecting into existing transmission grids entails major challenges. This course provides an introductory coverage of the basics of steady-state, short circuit and stability assessment of wind farm interconnection, individually and in conjunction with other wind farms. The discussions cover the various technology for converting wind energy to electric power, the electrical characteristics of each and the impacts on existing grids. Hands-on exercise allow participants to conduct detailed assessments of power flow and stability simulations for a sample wind farm and grid. For any planner, operator, designer or market participant, wind farms represent an important new technology and challenge. This course will help you get a step ahead in understanding the interconnection requirements for and potential impacts of wind farms.

Attendees

The course is oriented to be of most benefit to

• Transmission Operators
• Reliability Operators
• Generator Operators
• Market Operators
• Operations and Planning Engineers 

Ratings

To ensure the quality and timeliness of our courses, Pterra asks participants to provide feedback and to rate each course.  This allows to adjust to the changing needs of the industry.  Assessment ratings are made on a scale of 5 with highest being 5.0.  Ratings are applied to individual topics, individual speakers and instructors, and aspects of course presentation such as materials, notes and interaction.  Below is a summary of overall ratings for this course for recent sessions:

• Course held on July 8-10, 2008 in Akron, OH - 4.25
• Course held on June 17-19, 2008 in Albany, NY - 4.67

Format

The training is presented in a classroom format, using lectures, hands-on exercises and review tests. In the lectures, concepts, methods and techniques for each learning objective are presented, with provision for Q&A sessions to address specific questions.  The exercises provide for a basis to apply the concepts in real-world simulation software, and interpret the results from a physical standpoint. The test reviews determine if there is sufficient retention of the course material to support the award of CE credits.

The course is presented over three days with two sessions per day. Each session comprises of 3 classroom hours.  Participants receive bound Course Notes which contain a copy of the material presented in the lectures, including supplementary material for reference, description of the exercises and answer sheets for the exercises.

The exercises are presented with an overview and explanation of the sample system and provided data, a list of questions and space for the participants to enter responses, comments and additional notes.  

Computers will be provided for course participants.  Participants who wish to bring their own laptops with their own licensed analytical software may do so.  Pterra's instructors can provide coaching for most software packages.    

Outline

Day 1: 

• Overview of WTGs (types by design, manufacturer, rating, location)
• Steady-state characteristics of WTGs (real power and reactive power capacity)
• Modeling wind farms – from design layout to computer simulation for steady-state system studies
• Modeling multiple wind farms for system studies
• Case Study 1: a sample wind farm steady-state study
• Exercise: Develop a power flow model of a sample wind farm
• Exercise: Contingency analysis of sample farm

Day 2:

• Dynamic performance of WTGs (wind gust, turbine, controls, VRT, FRT)
• Developing dynamic models of WTGs for simulation
• Criteria for wind farm system performance
• Case Study 2 – sample dynamic model
• Exercise: Dynamic simulation of sample wind farm
• Exercise: Dynamic performance of power system with a new wind farm

Day 3:

• Power quality characteristics of WTGs (short circuit, harmonics)
• Impact of wind farms on ancillary services
• Modeling multiple wind farms for system studies
• Case Study 3: study for wind farm penetration
• Exercise: Based on wind diversity, model the output of several wind farms
• Exercise: Determine how many wind farms can be supported by a study system

NERC CE Hours

NERC CE Hours are awarded for successful completion of the course based on attendance, graded tests and completed hands-on exercises.  Hours are allocated as follows:

• Full course:
  • 18.0 Hours on Operating Topics
  • 9.0 Hours on Simulation

Duration

The course is scheduled for 18 class hours over a period of 3 days.

Location

The course will be held at Pterra's Training Facility in Albany, New York, located 5 minutes from Albany International Airport on Wolf Road.  Over 20 hotels and restaurants within 10 minutes make this an accessible location.  Also, the location is within a day's driving distance from anywhere in the Northeast US and eastern Canada.

Further Information 

For further logistical information, please follow this link.   

For more information, please contact info@pterra.us.