FAQs for AWEA's Grid Code Filing
Text of the Filing (PDF
Version)
Revision 4 July
1, 2005
What is the “Grid Code”?
AWEA has proposed an interconnection standard and set of procedures
for wind facilities of 20 MW and larger. This is the “Grid
Code Filing.” AWEA filed this at the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (the Commission) on May 20, 2004, to be used by regulated
transmission owners/operators for future requests for interconnection
of wind farms. This proposal is a summary
of AWEA’s effort to describe a set of reliability and utility system
issues related to wind generation. That initial effort was followed
by an "Electrical Guide to Utility-Scale Wind Turbines"
or “Grid Code” that serves as a reference for utilities, transmission
owners/operators, and the industry. The Guide is available here.
How does
the Grid Code Filing fit into FERC Order 2003-A?
The Grid Code is a response to footnote 85 on page 86 and Attachment G of
Order 2003-A, where the Commission left open the details of wind
interconnection for future review. These two sections of Order 2003-A create
an affirmative duty for wind energy interests to participate in the
interconnection and power supply process. The Commission is using the Grid
Code Filing to start a docket (RM02-1-005) to determine standard wind
farm interconnection requirements for Open Access Transmission
Tariffs (OATT) regulated by FERC.
How was the Grid Code created?
AWEA coordinated a committee of wind industry and utility
representatives (manufacturers, owners, developers, utilities,
constructors) that worked for 6 months to create the draft Grid Code.
This committee continues to aid AWEA in completing the white paper and
communicating the importance of a standard to the utility and regulatory
communities.
What impact does the Grid Code Filing have on wind projects in development?
This proposal, if accepted, will apply to new wind generation projects of 20
MW and larger that have not signed an Interconnection Agreement with the
transmission owner or operator (Transmission Provider) when the new OATT
language becomes effective. The Commission’s Large Generator Interconnection
Order 2003-A establishes the threshold of 20 MW. An estimate of the
timetable and a list of engineering issues are below.
What is the timetable for the Grid Code Filing to become effective?
AWEA’s filing is part of a process that may be completed this year. When the
Commission issues a decision in docket RM02-1-005, a notice will be issued
with a deadline of 30-45 days for utility and system operators to respond.
Individual transmission owners and operators will be required to file with
the Commission the approved version of the Grid Code as part of their OATT
Interconnection Procedures and Interconnection Agreement. The physical
standards are proposed to become effective for interconnection requests
submitted to a Transmission Provider on the latter of:
1) final approval of a
Transmission Provider’s interconnection tariff incorporating these
standards; or
2) six (6) months
following the Commission’s final order.
The procedural changes
are requested immediately following the Commission’s final order.
What
technical issues are addressed by the Grid Code Filing?
The proposal sets out requirements that are to be applied only if the
interconnecting utility determines they are needed. The engineering
requirements address: low voltage ride-through, telecommunications
capabilities, power factor within the range of up to 0.95 leading and up to
0.95 lagging, and the update and use of turbine and system models for
interconnection design. (See full
text)
What will developers do differently once the proposed Grid Code Filing is
adopted by FERC?
If adopted as proposed by
AWEA, the Grid Code Filing provides developers with an improved process for
interconnection, and a uniform set of requirements known to all equipment
vendors.
The proposed change in the interconnection study process provides the option
for the developer to study the initial feasibility of interconnection
designs. This “self-study” of feasibility means that the wind generator will
be permitted to submit the Interconnection Application without the provision
of the load flow parameter data, but otherwise continue to pay the $10K
deposit, enter the interconnection queue, have the scoping meeting with the
Transmission Provider, and receive from the Transmission Provider the base
case grid data. The wind generator will then be permitted to self-study the
feasibility of interconnection and present the Transmission Provider with an
electrical design and wind turbine/plant models that will be used for
subsequent interconnection studies as described in Order 2003-A. The process
described here will be a requirement for FERC-regulated transmission
providers to adopt.
What impact will the Grid Code have on wind generator manufacturers?
Turbine manufacturers will focus on two areas of the Grid Code. First, the
technical specifications for performance will allow manufacturers to plan
the design of turbines with greater certainty. The low voltage ride-through
standard proposed is the same as the anticipated standard for
interconnection that will become common in Europe.
Second, the proposal seeks to require that Transmission Providers and wind
generator manufacturers participate in a formal process for developing,
updating and improving the engineering models and turbine specifications
used for modeling the wind plant interconnection. Given the rapid pace of
wind turbine product development and the key role these models play in
determining interconnection costs and requirements, it is imperative that
these models reflect current generator technologies accurately and be
updated and validated in a timely manner as new turbine product development
occurs. AWEA believes it should be a requirement of the interconnection
tariffs that Transmission Providers participate along with wind turbine
manufacturers in a reasonable, formal process for achieving this result.
What allowance is made for planned projects and inventories of equipment?
By the time the Commission finalizes these equipment standards, most
projects that will seek interconnection in the months immediately following
the order will have already made commitments for their turbines and will
have planned their projects without reference to these new standards.
Accordingly, in order for the industry to implement these standards without
substantial project disruption or “stranded” equipment, AWEA proposes that
the physical standards proposed herein take effect for interconnection
requests submitted to a Transmission Provider on the latter of: 1) final
approval of the Transmission Provider’s interconnection tariff incorporating
these standards; or 2) six (6) months following the Commission’s final rule.
What effect does the Grid Code Filing have on
existing wind farms?
There is no mechanism to apply the proposed standards to existing wind
projects.
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