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
Wind Integration Summary Document Repackaged
UWIG is pleased to announce the release of its repackaged assessment on the integration of wind generation into utility power systems. "Utility Wind Integration State of the Art," originally released in May 2006, has been presented in a more user friendly format.
The assessment summarizes a number of the key points raised in a series of articles on wind integration that appeared in the November/December 2005 issue of the IEEE Power Engineering Society's Power & Energy Magazine. UWIG produced the summary in cooperation with the American Public Power Association (APPA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The assessment does not support or recommend any particular course of action or advocate any particular policy or position on the part of APPA, EEI, or NRECA.
The newly packaged document is available for download on the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/IntegrationStateoftheArt.htm. Hard copies of the document will be available at the UWIG booth (447) at the AWEA Windpower conference.
2007 Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting Details Finalized
Registration is now open for the 2007 UWIG Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting, which will be held in Anchorage, Alaska July 23-25 at the Sheraton. The technical workshop on July 24 and 25 will focus on industry and technology developments, distributed wind and local developments, international experience, transmission planning and policy as well as updates on wind integration studies. Meetings of the UWIG User Groups, along with an all-day workshop on tools for analysis of turbines on utility distribution systems, will take place on July 23.
The UWIG Annual Membership meeting and Member Appreciation Breakfast will take place the morning of July 25, culminating with the Board of Directors Election. An optional cultural and technical visit to Kotzebue, Alaska will follow the workshop. This event will feature a cultural program, traditional salmon dinner, and tour of the Kotzebue Electric Association Wind Farm and Diesel Plant.
Participants are encouraged to book travel arrangements as soon as possible as July is a popular time to travel to Anchorage and airfare and hotel availability will be constrained. The event agenda, as well as information on registration and accommodations, can be found on the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/annualmeet07Anchorage.html or contact Sandy Smith, sandy@uwig.org.
UWIG User Groups Ramp Up Activity, Fundraising
The UWIG Board of Directors and its membership have endorsed an expanded UWIG role in the identification and resolution of wind integration issues, as well as information dissemination and outreach to members. Recognizing that it is looked upon as an objective source of important knowledge and information for those interested in wind plant applications, especially related to operation on utility power systems, UWIG has established five topical user groups:
These groups are open to any employees from all UWIG members. The original concept was to gather together in one place as much relevant information on the topics of interest as possible, and make it easily available to the members. Each user group has a web home in the members-only area of the UWIG web site. Each user group also has a listserv, a mailing list where information on the latest developments in the topic area of interest, as well as material posted to the user group’s web page, is distributed out to recipients. Any employee of any UWIG member organization is encouraged to sign up to participate in any of the user groups. Interested persons should contact Sandy Smith (sandy@uwig.org).
Last year, the Board of Directors approved an expanded scope and work plan for the User Groups, along with an annual allocation of $25,000 in initial funding from the UWIG annual budget, which will be supplemented by fundraising among the members and outside sources interested in the various topics studied by the User Groups. The revised scope for each User Group represents a significant extension in the work of UWIG as it expands its role from providing educational programs and wind industry information to identifying and addressing major issues associated with incorporating wind plants into utility systems.
The user group work plan is laid out over a five year period, at a total cost of approximately $4 million. The first year activity represents a cost of $1.2 million, half of which is already funded through cost-sharing with NREL and Xcel Energy. Fundraising for the work plan begins in earnest this month. A copy of the plan can be downloaded at www.uwig.org/2007UGWorkPlanandProposal.pdf.
Dates, Location Set for 2007 Offering of Wind Integration Short Course
The highly-successful and well-received course Wind Generation in Power Systems: A Short Course on the Integration and Interconnection of Wind Power Plants into Electric Power Systems will be offered September 11-14 in St. Paul, Minnesota at the facilities of the Midwest Independent System Operator. Registration for the event will be limited to the first 35 individuals. The course will run three days, followed by a half-day optional program and tour of a nearby wind farm. Information on this event, including registration, agenda, and accommodations, can be found on the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/shortcourse2007.html.
UWIG to Exhibit at Windpower Conference
UWIG will exhibit at the American Wind Energy Association’s Windpower Conference to be held June 3-6 in Los Angeles. Drop by Booth 447 to meet UWIG staff, pick up a copy of the newly repackaged Wind Integration Summary Document, and learn more about what’s going on with the organization.
UWIG Coordinating Special Wind Issue of IEEE Magazine
UWIG Executive Director Charlie Smith is serving as guest editor of the November-December issue of the IEEE Power Engineering Society Power & Energy Magazine, which will address the integration of wind power plants into utility power systems. Charlie and co-editor Brian Parsons of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are reprising their roles from the November-December 2005 issue, which provided an outstanding collection of articles from well-respected industry professionals on the full range of integration issues. That particular issue serves as a standard reference document and tutorial on the subject. The 2005 issue was so well-received and the field is advancing so rapidly that UWIG is coordinating a complete update for the November-December 2007 issue, an effort well underway. Reprints of the 2005 issue will be available at the UWIG booth at Windpower.
On the UWIG Web Site - Selection of Presentations from Wind-Hydro Integration Workshop
UWIG, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Bonneville Power Administration, the American Wind Energy Association and the Canadian Wind Energy Association, presented a Wind/Hydro Integration Workshop March 21-22 in Portland, Ore. Over one hundred individuals participated in a timely and lively discussion on adding more wind to hydro-dominated systems. The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from Rachel Shimshak of Renewable Northwest Project and Eric Markell of Puget Sound Energy. The opening session was then followed by an introductory background session covering the basics of hydro system planning and operation from around the world. The workshop also featured sessions on operational studies, technology status and developments, the Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan, and opportunities for regional cooperation. The workshop was extremely timely, as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, BPA, and other stakeholders formally released the Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan on March 21.
A selection of presentations from the session on "Experience Gained from Operations Studies" has been made available in the public area of the UWIG web site at http://www.uwig.org/wind-hydro.html. Want to see all of the presentations and your organization is a member? Send e-mail to sandy@uwig.org for login credentials. If your organization is not a member and you would like to inquire about membership, contact Sandy Smith.
UWIG Board of Directors
Henry Durrwachter, TXU Wholesale – President
Gary Thompson, Nebraska Public Power District – Secretary
Brent Petrie, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative – Treasurer
Jay Caspary, Southwest Power Pool
Elliot Mainzer, Bonneville Power Administration (Non-Voting)
Brett Oakleaf, Xcel Energy
Richard O’Conor, We Energies
Dale Osborn, Midwest Independent System Operator
Brad Reeve, Kotzebue Electric Association Inc.
Ron Rebenitsch, Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Steve Wotruba, Energy Northwest
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