
NYISO Wind Forecasts to Help Green the Grid
Apr
3 , 2008 - Business Wire
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
will incorporate a centralized wind forecasting system
to better accommodate wind power in New York's bulk
electricity grid.
The wind-forecasting system, planned for implementation
this summer, is one of many steps being taken by the
NYISO to recognize and incorporate the unique characteristics
and variable nature of wind power in dispatching resources
to economically serve the State's electric load.
The NYISO has contracted with AWS Truewind, of Colonie,
N.Y., to implement the wind-forecasting capability.
The ability to more accurately forecast wind allows
the NYISO to gauge how much wind power is likely to
be available throughout a given day, enabling maximum
use of "green power" resources while enhancing reliability
by anticipating variations in generator output.
"As fuel costs climb and the need for emission-free
electricity grows, it is important to realize the
full potential of renewable energy resources such
as wind. The NYISO is committed to accommodating the
market entry of any and all new technologies and renewable
resources," said Karen Antion, the NYISO's Board Chair
and interim CEO.
"As more wind power projects are connected to the
grid, they will require enhanced attention. The advance
forecasts will allow us to accommodate wind power
more accurately and reliably," said Robert Hiney,
a NYISO Board member and interim President.
The variable nature of wind generation poses special
challenges to grid operators, such as the NYISO, who
must constantly balance the supply of and demand for
electricity on the grid because electricity cannot
be stored efficiently with current technologies.
To produce the forecasts, wind generators will send
meteorological data and the NYISO will send power
data to AWS Truewind. The company will provide wind
power forecasts to the NYISO, which will use the information
to integrate wind power in balancing the supply of
electricity with consumer demand.
The NYISO has also proposed wind-related revisions
in market rules, which are subject to approval by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The
proposals include
: -- Increasing the amount of wind generation eligible
for exemption from under-generation penalties and
full compensation for over-generation,
-- Requiring wind projects to finance the costs of
the centralized forecasting service, and
-- Establishing penalties for wind generators who
continually fail to deliver meteorological data to
the NYISO forecaster.
Currently, there are nearly 500 megawatts of wind
generating capacity in commercial operation in New
York State. Almost 7,000 megawatts of proposed wind
generation projects are proceeding through the grid
interconnection process administered by the NYISO.
According to the American Wind Energy Association
(AWEA), independently operated wholesale electricity
markets, such as those administered by the NYISO,
are enabling greater amounts of wind power to be integrated
into the nation's electric grid. In 2007, AWEA reported
that regions served by independently operated wholesale
electricity markets had approximately 73 percent of
installed wind capacity, despite having only 44 percent
of nation's wind power potential. The New York Independent
System Operator (NYISO) - www.nyiso.com - is a not-for-profit
corporation that began operations in 1999. The NYISO
operates New York's bulk electricity grid, administers
the state's wholesale electricity markets, and performs
comprehensive reliability planning for the state's
bulk electricity system.
SOURCE: The New York Independent System Operator
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