In this issue
This publication is being sent to individuals from UWIG member organizations as well as nonmembers to inform you about UWIG activities, meetings, and news. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, which will be sent out periodically (i.e., when there is news to report), please send e-mail to info@uwig.org. If there are others within your organization who would like to receive the UWIG Update, please send e-mail to info@uwig.org.
UWIG News and Notes
Spring Technical Workshop Update
The 2009 Spring Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting will be held April 1-3 at the Radisson Plaza - Warwick in Philadelphia, Pa. The workshop will provide attendees with an expanded perspective on the status of wind in utility systems in the United States and other countries. The agenda, focusing on wind integration, application, and operation on utility power systems, includes topics on industry and technology developments, impacts of wind plant performance on related generation assets, transmission and markets, and forecasting developments. The schedule of events includes meetings of the UWIG User Groups, the 2009 UWIG Membership Meeting and Board of Directors election on April 3 and a reception featuring the presentation of the UWIG Annual Achievement Awards on April 2. The workshop will be followed by a tour of Gamesa Technology Corporation’s nearby manufacturing facility (registration restrictions apply).
The Operating Impacts and Integration Study, Market Operations and Transmission Policy, and Wind Turbine Modeling and Interconnection Study Users Groups will all meet at the Radisson on April 1. The Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Users Group will meet on March 31 at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport (see next story). The agenda, along with details on accommodations and registration, can be found at http://www.uwig.org/annualmeet09Philadelphia.html. Please note that the room block at the Radisson expires March 13.
Turbine O&M Users Group to Hold Third Meeting Under New Format
The UWIG Turbine Operations & Maintenance Users Group will hold its next meeting on March 31 at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport. This event is the third meeting under this user group’s new scope, membership requirements, and participation limitations. The morning will consist of a Plenary Session open to user group members and interested parties from UWIG member organizations. The Plenary Session at this meeting will focus on SCADA and turbine/plant control systems.
The afternoon session will consist of vendor product-specific Roundtable Forums for user group members only. The format will consist of open discussions, moderated by a Roundtable chair, centered on a specific wind turbine component or specific model of wind turbine. The Roundtable will provide the opportunity for frank and open discussion among users, who will share their information, knowledge and experience. The meeting will be followed by a tour of Gamesa Technology Corporation’s nearby manufacturing facility on April 1 (registration restrictions apply). Details on the meeting can be found at http://www.uwig.org/oandm_philly.html. For information on participation eligibility requirements, please contact Sandy Smith, sandy@uwig.org. Please note that the room block at the Hilton expires March 13.
Distributed Wind Applications User Group to Hold Stand-alone Meeting
The UWIG Distributed Wind Applications User Group will meet on March 25 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas from 1 to 5 pm. This meeting is being held in co-location with the American Public Power Association’s Engineering & Operations Conference. The agenda will focus on enhancements to the UWIG Distributed Wind Analytical Tools, LVRT interaction with IEEE 1547, and case studies. Information on registration and accommodations can be found on the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/distwind-austin.html. This meeting is open to UWIG members, APPA DEED program members, and NRECA CRN members.
Travel Scholarships Available to Munis and Co-ops to Attend UWIG Meetings
The Public Power Partnership effort led by Western Area Power Administration on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, is offering thirty $500 travel scholarships to electric cooperatives and public power utilities to attend a UWIG meeting. To qualify for the scholarship, your employer must be a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association or the American Public Power Association, have never previously attended a UWIG meeting, and submitted a scholarship request and received a confirmation e-mail.
Please note – one scholarship per utility. To secure a scholarship, which can also be used to defray registration costs, please contact Randy Manion at 720-962-7423 or manion@wapa.gov.
Sponsorship Exhibition Opportunities Available for Philadelphia Meetings
UWIG is making available a limited number of sponsorships for the Turbine Operations & Maintenance Users Group Meeting on March 31 and the Spring Technical Workshop April 2 and 3. Sponsoring companies/organizations will receive recognition in meeting/workshop materials as well as the opportunity to have a tabletop exhibition/display table in the registration area. Sponsorships are $1000 for the O&M User Group meeting and $2500 for the Spring Technical Workshop. For more information, please contact Sandy Smith, sandy@uwig.org.
Wind Forecasting Workshop a Success
For the second year in a row, UWIG conducted the workshop Wind Forecasting Applications to Utility Planning and Operations. The event was held at the Wyndham Phoenix Downtown February 18-19 and saw the participation of 100 attendees from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The workshop was intended to facilitate a better understanding of the use of analytical methods for wind plant output forecasting applications for power system planning and operations; and to provide a better understanding of power system planning and operations requirements. The goal was to facilitate a dialog between wind plant forecasters and power system planning and operations personnel and their consultants.
The presentations for this workshop can be found in the members area of the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/members/Phoenix/index.html (login required).
UWIG Helps Organize Wind Generator Modeling Tutorial at IEEE Power Systems Conference
UWIG has helped organize a tutorial on wind generator modeling and controls to be held at the IEEE Power and Energy Society Power Systems Conference and Exhibition in Seattle, Wash. March 15-18. The tutorial, to be held March 15, is an introduction to wind power plant performance and representation. Topics include overview of the wind industry, wind generation technology, and modeling (focusing on steady-state power flow and dynamic representation). Wind generation performance standards (existing and trends) relevant to planning and operations will also be discussed.
Please note that this is an introduction to the subject of the technology and modeling of wind turbines. Details on the agenda as well as registration can be found at http://www.pscexpo.com/Tutorials.asp.
UWIG Co-Sponsors Wind Webinar Series, Presentations Posted
UWIG is co-sponsoring a series of wind power webinars in partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. DOE Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, American Wind Energy Association, and National Wind Coordinating Collaborative. There is no charge to participate in these webinars, which are targeted towards public power and cooperative utilities. Presentations and a recording from webinars on wind integration and forecasting can be found at http://www.uwig.org/PRPwebinars.html.
UWIG to Co-sponsor Research Symposium on Wind Integration Study Models, Methods
In partnership with EirGrid, ESB Networks, Sustainable Energy Ireland, and the University College Dublin Electricity Research Centre, UWIG is presenting a Research Symposium on Wind Integration Study Models and Methods. This event will be held July 7 and 8 at the O’Callaghan Mont Clair Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. The goal of this workshop is to
Information on the agenda, registration, and accommodations will be posted on the UWIG web site soon.
UWIG to Co-sponsor International Wind Integration Workshop
UWIG is co-sponsoring the 8th International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of Wind Power into Power Systems as well as on Transmission Networks for Offshore Wind Farms. The event will be held October 14-15, 2009 in Bremen, Germany. This workshop provides an international forum to
A call for papers has been released with abstracts due by March 23, 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.windintegrationworkshop.org.
UWIG Board of Directors
Henry Durrwachter, Luminant – President
Cliff Murley, Sacramento Municipal Utility District - Vice President
Gary Thompson, Nebraska Public Power District – Secretary
Brent Petrie, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative – Treasurer
Steve Beuning, Xcel Energy
Jay Caspary, Southwest Power Pool
Richard O’Conor, We Energies
Dale Osborn, Midwest Independent System Operator
Ron Rebenitsch, Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Brad Reeve, Kotzebue Electric Association Inc.
Brian Skeahan, Cowlitz Public Utility District
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