Serving the Future: Advanced Wind Generation Technology Supports Ancillary Services

Grid integration of wind power plants is complicated by wind variability and the technical characteristics of wind generators. The generation mix is evolving in today´s power system as conventional coal plants reach the end of their useful lives and are being displaced by cleaner technology such as wind and gas. At high levels of wind power penetration, the need for ancillary services increases, while the traditional resources that provide those services may become less available or economically feasible. Developing wind plant controls that allow performance more like that of conventional generation presents the opportunity for wind plants to provide a full range of ancillary services.