Wind News: Utility models wind plants and hydro to spot integration problems
Wind News: Utility models wind plants and hydro to spot integration problems May 22, 2012 by Kathleen Zipp Filed under Wind Power News , Wind Power Projects , Wind Power Software Leave a Comment in Share 5 A Canadian utility committed to using renewable energy, mainly hydroelectric and wind power, says it conducts simulations of its far-flung equipment to smooth power flow to the grid. Hydro-Québec engineers also say simulations forecast power output and ensure safe, reliable operation of the overall power system. Another task for the simulations is to determine how much equipment, such as static VAR compensators, will be needed when new wind farms are connected to the power network. “Without accurate models, we risk installing millions of dollars’ worth of unnecessary equipment or not having the equipment needed to meet reliability and production goals,” says Denis Laurin, the utility’s manager of