| Connection capacity of the NPS – where the truth lies? |
| 26-03-2010 |
|
From the very beginning of increased interest in wind power in Poland different circles (some representatives of the administration, companies or the science sector) warn about potential disastrous effects of connection of a significant number of wind farms. Those warnings lack reference to the results of any studies determining or just approximating wind penetration ceiling that could trigger such a disaster.
Simultaneously it is suggested that as much as couple thousand MW (6 – 8 thousand) in wind farms in Poland is the maximum capacity that could be connected in Poland and the boundary of safe operation of the system – and only if significant and costly investment in grid infrastructure is made. The government seems to share such an approach, assuming in the Poland’s Energy Policy adopted in November 2009 that wind power in Poland may develop to 6 thousand MW by 2020 and 7.8 thousand MW by 2030! Polish Wind Energy Association decided to verify the actual wind power connection capacity in the National Power System (NPS). To this end PWEA decided to commission appropriate analysis to one of recognized research centres. An incentive for such action are the results of scientific studies demonstrating much higher wind power connection capacity than those referred to by the conventional wind energy sector. Current wind power connection capacity amounts to almost 13 thousand MW – almost twice as much as declared by grid operators. More importantly, 10+ thousand MW may be connected with small investment expenditures, usually limited to increasing working temperature of conductors to 60 deg. An additional effect of those connections would be the decrease in transmission losses by approximately 400 MW in the summer and winter seasons. Given grid modernisation and development planned by operators for the years to come the connection capacity of the NPS will further increase! Unfortunately, it is not settled if the report concerning wind power connection capacity could be developed. A request addressed to PSE-Operator for providing experts with data necessary to perform such analysis was rejected by the operator. What a secret is kept by the operator of the Polish power system, when similar information concerning other European operators is publicly available? For example, such data can be freely downloaded from the website of British NGC or Irish EIRGRID. To all whom it may concern: the first results of research works will be presented during the Vth “Wind Energy Market in Poland” Conference on 19 April 2010 in the Hilton Hotel in Warsaw. During the Conference we will also try to answer the question concerning the truth about the condition of the Polish power system. |
