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 a Success
UWIG’s 2010 Spring Technical Workshop was held April 15-16 at the Nines hotel in Portland, Oregon. 135 participants attended the program, which focused on systems operations in the Pacific Northwest, forecasting research and development, wind integration studies, technology developments, utility wind plant ownership experience, and industry developments. The workshop took place following meetings of the UWIG User Groups. It was followed by a tour of Moventas’ gearbox service facility.
The presentation materials for the workshop can be downloaded in the members area of the UWIG web site. The presentations from the meetings of the Operating Impacts and Integration Study, Solar Integration, Wind Turbine Modeling and Interconnection Study, and Market Operations and Transmission Policy Users Groups can be found on the UWIG web site as well. Note that login credentials are required to access these sites. Please send e-mail to sandy@uwig.org if you need or have misplaced your user name and password.
UWIG Conducts Annual Membership Meeting, Announces Expansion of Scope to Include Solar, Elects Board Members and Officers
UWIG conducted its Annual Membership Meeting in conjunction with the Spring Technical Workshop on April 16. Attendees heard annual reports by President Henry Durrwachter and Executive Director Charlie Smith as well as a report on the organization’s finances. Durrwachter and Smith announced that UWIG will begin addressing the integration of solar power in its activities, most notably through a recently organized Solar Integration User Group as well as through the inclusion of solar-related topics in the work of the other user groups. This expansion, undertaken at the request of a number of members, was endorsed by the UWIG Board of Directors at a Strategic Planning Meeting conducted in March and will be implemented through the remainder of 2010.
The Membership Meeting concluded with the 2010 Board of Directors election. Henry Durrwachter of Luminant was re-elected in a close vote over Ty Bettis of Portland General Electric to represent the Investor-Owned Utility Class. Ron Rebenitsch of Basin Electric Power Cooperative was re-elected without opposition to represent the Rural Electric Cooperative Class. Brian Skeahan of Cowlitz Public Utility District was re-elected without opposition to represent the Public Power Utility Class. Kevin Gaden of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska/NMPP Energy was elected to fill an unexpired term representing the Public Power Utility Class.
Following the meeting, the Board of Directors conducted officer elections. Henry Durrwachter was elected President. Steve Beuning of Xcel Energy was elected Vice President. Gary Thompson of Nebraska Public Power District was elected Secretary and Brent Petrie of Alaska Village Electric Cooperative was elected Treasurer. The presentations for the Membership Meeting can be found on the UWIG web site (login required). .
Solar Integration User Group Holds Inaugural Meeting
Following on the success of the PV Variability Workshop held last October in Cedar Rapids in cooperation with DOE, NREL, Sandia, and SEPA, as well as the expansion of its technical portfolio to include solar topics, UWIG held the inaugural meeting of its new Solar Integration User Group the morning of April 14 in Portland. Chaired by Abraham Ellis of Sandia National Laboratories and Debbie Lew of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, this group will focus on the issues of solar variability, uncertainty, and interconnection and continue the discussions held in Cedar Rapids. Presentations from this meeting can be found in the members area of the UWIG web site Note that login credentials are required to access this site.
Turbine O&M Users Group Holds Meeting, Siemens Roundtable Formed
The UWIG Turbine Operations & Maintenance Users Group met April 13-14 at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower. This event was the fifth meeting under this user group’s revised scope, membership requirements, and participation limitations. The morning of April 13 featured a plenary session focusing on wind turbine and wind plant safety.
The remainder of the meeting consisted of meetings of UWIG’s GE and Vestas Discussion Roundtables and the inaugural meeting of its Siemens Discussion Roundtable. These manufacturer-specific Roundtable Forums are for turbine owner/operators only and provide the opportunity for frank and open discussion among users, who share their information, knowledge and experience. Attendees also enjoyed a networking reception as well as a tour of Moventas’ gearbox service facility.
The presentations from the Plenary Session can be found on the UWIG web site (login required). For more information on this user group, please contact Sandy Smith (sandy@uwig.org).
UWIG Announces Workshop on Wind Integration Study Models and Methods
UWIG will conduct a special topical workshop on wind integration study models and methods June 24-25 in Minneapolis, Minn. This workshop is intended for utility and wind industry personnel who perform wind integration studies or utilize their findings.
The workshop’s intent is to:
The workshop will be conducted as a series of discussion forums. To facilitate this format, registration will be limited to those actively working in the area of wind integration studies and attendance will be limited to 80 attendees. Details on this event can be found on the UWIG web site.
UWIG Schedules Presentation of Wind Integration Short Course
In partnership with the American Wind Energy Association and Energynautics, UWIG will hold the 2010 presentation of Wind Generation in Power Systems: A Short Course on the Integration and Interconnection of Wind Power Plants into Electric Power Systems September 21-24 in Austin, Texas. Details on this event can be found on the UWIG web site.
Date, Venue for Fall Turbine O&M Users Group Meeting Announced
The UWIG Turbine Operations & Maintenance Users Group will hold its fall meeting September 23-24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Austin, Texas. The format will be the same as the spring meeting with a plenary session and meetings of the GE and Vestas Roundtables on September 23 and a meeting of the Siemens Roundtable on September 24. There will also be an opportunity for participants to tour TECO-Westinghouse's manufacturing facility in nearby Round Rock, where DeWind turbines are assembled. Details will be posted to the UWIG web site as soon as they are finalized.
UWIG Co-sponsors International Wind Integration Workshop
UWIG is co-sponsoring the 9th 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 18-19, 2010 in Quebec City following the UWIG Fall Technical Workshop. This workshop provides an international forum to:
For more information, please visit http://www.windintegrationworkshop.org. UWIG’s Fall Technical Workshop will take place October 13-15, prior to this event. A registration discount will be extended to UWIG members who attend the Fall Workshop.
UWIG Board of Directors
Henry Durrwachter, Luminant – President
Steve Beuning, Xcel Energy - Vice President
Gary Thompson, Nebraska Public Power District – Secretary
Brent Petrie, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative – Treasurer
Jay Caspary, Southwest Power Pool
Kevin Gaden, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska/NMPP Energy
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
If you are not
interested in receiving announcements from the Utility Wind Integration Group,
please send e-mail to info@uwig.org and we
will remove your name.