Impact of high penetration of wind on power system operations

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) currently has approximately 700 MW of wind plant in operation with close to 8,000 MW at various stages of development in the interconnection queue. The 8,000 MW includes approximately 1,200 MW off-shore wind and it expected that another 500 MW should be in service by the summer of 2009. In 2004, the NYISO studied the impact of the 3,300 MW of potential wind generation. The potential is now much greater. The primary focus of these actions is to focus on several issues that have been identified as important to successfully integrating much higher penetrations of wind generation. They are: 1) transmission, 2) system flexibility, 3) operator awareness and practices, and 4) wind generator plant performance and standards. The purpose of this paper will be to describe NYISO experience with existing wind plant operations and the findings of the NYISO´s investigation with respect to the impact of wind plant penetrations which exceed 3,300 MW.