NEWS FROM WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 5,
2005
CONTACT: LaVerne Kyriss, 720-962-7051, kyriss@wapa.gov
DAKOTAS WIND TRANSMISSION STUDY FINAL RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE
LAKEWOOD , Colo. —The final report for the Dakotas Wind Transmission Study is now available to the public. The study examined how the addition of 500 megawatts of wind generation in North Dakota and South Dakota would affect the region’s transmission system.
For the seven wind sites studied, major conclusions are that under normal system intact conditions, non-firm transmission is available most of the time across three monitored areas for up to 500 MW of new wind generation. However, some of the sites are limited to less than 500 MW without additional system enhancements. The study indicated that some overloads and dynamic stability problems resulted when wind generation was added, but dynamic line rating and reconductoring could mitigate those problems without adding new transmission lines to the system.
The final report is available at http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/study/DakotasWind/.
Western Area Power Administration received $750,000 of non-reimbursable funds from Congress in FY 2004 to perform the transmission study. Western developed the final study scope with input from the public. Public review and comments were also solicited as the study tasks were completed. The study addressed four tasks:
For more information about the Dakotas Wind Study or to receive a copy of the final study results, visit our Web site or call or e-mail Sam Miller at 406-247-7466 or csmiller@wapa.gov.
Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
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