Transmission Recommendations for High Wind Penetration

Transmission recommendations and needs for high wind penetration can be identified and quantified. Transmission policy reforms, transmission planning initiatives, and state renewable portfolio standards indicate obstacles and opportunities for transmission needed to serve as much as 20% of U.S. electric energy needs. This paper surveys the development of transmission policy recommendations related to wind power at state, regional and federal levels. It describes the cost and reliability requirements reported in studies of high wind penetration by the Western Governors Association, the Midwest Independent System Operator, and the New York Independent System Operator, as well as theoretical modeling of 350 GW of wind using the WinDS geographic and economic model from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The author uses energy demand, WinDS estimates of costs per delivered megawatt-hour of wind, and MW-mile estimates in Western states to illustrate scenarios for high wind penetration.