Distributed Wind/Solar Interconnection Workshop

Sponsored by the American Public Power Association - Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Power Program - Wind Powering America Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Program, and the Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group

May 21-22, 2013 - Golden, CO

Inquire about Registration Availability

Event Overview

The workshop sponsors have been in the forefront of addressing wind and solar interconnection and variable generation issues, opportunities and challenges for many years. This two-day workshop will answer your questions about interconnecting wind and solar plants and other distributed generation applications to electric distribution systems; and provide insight and understanding to integrating large-scale renewable generation into the transmission system. The workshop will be held at NREL's state-of-the-art Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) on the first day and at Western's Electric Power Training Center (EPTC) on the second day, both in Golden, Colorado.

The workshop will provide an overview of wind and solar interconnection studies and many frequently asked questions; followed by case-study presentations on wind and solar project interconnection experiences. It includes a tour of NREL's state-of-the-art ESIF where 200 NREL researchers and support staff engineer, design, test, and analyze components and systems to enable economic, reliable integration of renewable electricity, fuel production, storage, and building efficiency technologies with the U.S. electricity delivery infrastructure. The staff also conducts research to overcome challenges related to the interconnection of distributed energy systems and the integration of renewable energy technologies into the electrical grid. The ESIF staff uses a high-performance computing data center that will improve and expand capabilities in modeling and simulation of renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies and their integration into the existing energy infrastructure.

The workshop includes a “hands on” introduction to UVIG's Internet-based tools designed to assess a distributed wind project's impact on the local distribution system. Training will cover the theory behind each tool and demonstrate their use with actual data. Speakers from Tri-State G&T, Xcel Energy, NREL, Western and DOE will address topics beyond the distribution system, including transmission power operations, and renewable integration studies. Also, Western's EPTC instructors will give the participants a tour of the EPTC center where they will have the opportunity to observe a demonstration of the EPTC's hands-on miniature power system, which includes a Wind Farm Simulator developed in partnership with the NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program.

Continuing education credit will be available for this workshop.

Venue

The workshop will be held at the:

May 21 - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Energy Systems Integration Facility
15013 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401

May 22 - Western Area Power Administration
Electric Power Training Center
1667 Cole Boulevard, Building 19 - Suite 152
Golden, CO 80401

Workshop Agenda

May 21

7:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast at ESIF
8:00 a.m. - Welcome and Introductions - Steve Yexley, Electric Power Training Center (EPTC) Program Manager, Dave Corbus, NREL Electricity Systems Program Manager
8:30 a.m. - Wind/Solar integration studies and FAQs - Debbie Lew, NREL
9:15 a.m. - Distributed Wind and Solar Integration Experience - Tom Wind, Wind Utility Consulting (Webinar 1)
10:00 a.m. - Break
10:30 a.m. – Distributed Solar Integration Experience - Phil Barker, Nova Energy Specialists (Webinar 2)
11:15 a.m. - UVIG's Distributed Wind and Solar Activities - Sandy Smith, UVIG (Webinar 3)
11:30 a.m. - Wind and Solar Project Experience - Rob Wolaver, Tri-State G&T Association
12:00 p.m. Lunch speaker – Importance of Resource Planning, an Agnostic Approach - Randy Udall, Association for the Study of Peak Oil USA
1:00 p.m. - Technical Challenges with High Penetration Solar, Barry Mather, NREL
2:00 p.m. - FERC NOPR on Revised Small Generator Interconnection Procedure - Kevin Fox, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
2:45 p.m. - Afternoon Break
3:15 p.m. - Energy Storage - Paul Denholm, NREL
4:00 p.m. - NREL Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) (Webinar 4)
4:30 p.m. - Tour ESIF Capability to Integrate Large Renewable Energy Projects into the Grid
5:00 p.m. - Adjourn for day

May 22

7:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast at EPTC
8:00 a.m. - Distributed Resources in Micro-Grids - John Glassmire, HOMER Energy
Lab Exercises: Wind/PV/Storage Example in HOMER
9:45 a.m. - Break
10:15 a.m. - Application of the UVIG Feeder Simulator - Tom McDermott, UVIG
Lab Exercises: Multi-Speak Import, Voltage Control, Over-current Protection
12:00 p.m. - Lunch speaker – Utility Solutions to Develop More Renewable Energy Projects, Steve Beuning, Xcel Energy
1:00 p.m. - Standards and Interconnection Requirements - Tom McDermott, UVIG
Lab Exercises: UWIG Screening Tool, Flicker Evaluation
2:45 p.m. – Opportunities for Utility Demand Response Programs - Jennifer Drake, Tri-State
3:15 p.m. – Break
3:45 p.m. - Economics of Distributed Renewable Projects - Tom McDermott, UVIG
Lab Exercises: Capacity Factor, Production Tax Credit, Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
5:00 p.m. - Tour Western’s EPTC and Wind Simulator (Interactive Demonstration of Wind Energy Operations)
6:00 p.m. - Workshop Adjourned

Fees and Registration

Workshop Registration Fee $300 Webinars $99 (for all four webinars)

Registration for the onsite attendees is limited to the first 25 registrants (the computer lab at the EPTC can accommodate up to 25 comfortably).

Non-U.S. Citizens (foreign nationals) are no longer being allowed to register for on-site attendance (webinar participation only) due to security requirements from the DOE for entry to its facilities

Western Area Power Administration is offering registration scholarships to the first ten Electric Cooperative, Municipally-owned Electric Utility, or Native American Tribe attendees to this workshop. To secure a registration scholarship, please contact Randy Manion, Renewable Resource Program Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Manion@wapa.gov.

All registration cancellations and requests for refunds of registration fees must be submitted to UVIG in writing.

Requests received by April 15 - receive refund less $25 administrative fee.

Requests received after April 15 - receive refund less $150 administrative fee.

Note that individuals registered for the webinar option will be issued full refunds if they cancel their participation in advance.

Registrants who have not paid by April 15 will need to make arrangements to pay in advance via credit card or risk having their registrations cancelled.

For additional information contact:

Sandy Smith
Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group
Phone: (865) 218-4600, ext. 6141
Fax: (865) 218-8999
E-mail: sandy@uwig.org

Accommodations

Accommodations are available at the following hotels, listed in order of proximity to the EPTC:

Courtyard by Marriott
14700 W 6th Avenue, Frontage Road
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-0776

Denver Marriott West
177 Denver West Boulevard
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-9100

Days Inn and Suites
15059 West Colfax Ave.
Golden, CO 80401
303-277-0200

Golden Hotel
800 11th Street
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-0100

Hilton Homewood Suites
139 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80228
303-716-5737

Residence Inn by Marriott Denver West Golden
14600 W 6th Avenue, Frontage Road
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-0909

Table Mountain Inn
1310 Washington Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-277-9898