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BPA - Integrating future wind generation into the power grid
In a little over a decade, wind has become the Pacific Northwest’s fastest growing renewable resource. Next year, the region is expected to have 3,800 MW of power generated by wind. And over the next 20 years, the Northwest Power and Planning Council calls for construction of up to 6,000 MW.
Integrating this exponential growth of wind power into region’s grid system means the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is taking a strategic look at how they do business. “The hydro system doesn’t have unlimited capacity to integrate wind,” said Elliot Mainzer BPA Manager of Transmission Policy and Strategy. “To meet this growing demand we are looking at five areas.”
Key to integrating new wind generation is carrying out the Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan’s 16 recommendations. BPA has established an internal wind integration team to work specifically on the action plan. “We must be very diligent in implementing the plan,” said Mainzer
BPA is also looking to manage their existing wind fleet as affectively as possible. This means closely monitoring extremes in wind conditions and more strategic forecasting.
Cooperative regional efforts between the 17 balancing authorities (of which BPA is one) can help maintain the system’s needs by sharing the variability of wind facilities and their load variability across service boundaries -- similar to what is now done for hydropower.
BPA plans on finding for more dynamic capacity from other utilities. Purchasing dynamic capacity gives BPA more flexibility in using the hydro system.
New transmission lines will be needed to meet growing Northwest electricity demand and to reach high-value wind resources. BPA will work with developers and utilities to create transmission extension plans that are based on identification of the region’s best wind development areas.
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