System integration of large-scale wind power in the Netherlands

This paper presents the results of a simulation of system operation in the Netherlands in the presence of future large-scale wind energy production. The study is aimed at identifying bottlenecks in system planning and operation due to wind integration, in particular base-load and ramp rate problems. These may constraint the amount of wind that can be accommodated given a projected production park of dispatchable units and yearly load profile by 2012. Wind data from 20042005, interpolated to existing locations for onshore and planned locations for offshore wind parks, were used to create a realistic yearly wind energy output profile. The unit commitment and economic dispatch formulation includes ramp rate constrairiLs, for generation schedules and reserve activation as well as minimum up- and down times. Of particular interest in this study are the combined heat & power (CHP) units, which impose additional constraints coupling their heat and energy production. Since no insight was available into the aggregated predict-ability of wind generation, both a 0-MW prediction, where conventional units are scheduled to meet the total load, and a perfect prediction have been investigated. No forms of electrical or heat storage were considered. The results show no ramp rate problems in the Dutch system by 2012, however base-load problems may arise at high wind penetration levels, only to be prevented by wasting available wind resources.