The wind energy industry is booming as utilities are working toward becoming more "green," and renewable energy is becoming more of a requirement rather than an option.
One technical panel session at this year's IEEE PES T&D Conference addressed the knowledge needed to plan for wind energy: "Transmission Planning for Wind Energy," held on Wednesday, April 23. Steve Beuning of Xcel Energy lead the panel.
The rapid growth and short lead time for wind energy projects has caused a rethinking in the traditional transmission planning paradigm. A variety of new approaches are being explored in North America and Europe, driven by the needs of wind energy plants. This session reportrf on a number of the innovative approaches to transmission planning methods and transmission funding mechanisms being stimulated by the needs of wind power plants.
The session included the following presenters (see IEEE PES for conference proceedings):
08TD0690 The Development of Competitive Renewable Energy Zones in Texas
W. LASHER, ERCOT
08TD0721 Transmission Plan Development Based on Economic Studies
D. OSBORN, Midwest ISO
08TD0798 Transmission Expansion Issues for Offshore Wind Farms
Integration in Europe
P. BRESESTI, CESI RICERCA
R. VAILATI, CESI RICERCA
08TD0800 SPP Transmission Planning for Wind Energy
J. CASPARY, Southwest Power Pool
08TD0797 California Tehachapi Transmission Study
H. ROMANOWITZ, Oak Creek Energy
Systems, Inc.
