In mid-October, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) saw its wind generation set a new hourly record with 4,273 megawatts (MW). More exciting for the utility was when wind generated more power than hydro for the first time. At 2:50 a.m. on October 16th, wind generated 3,169 MW while hydro generated 3,165 MW. Following its usual variability, wind out-generated hydro off and on through the day. In the wake of the passing weather front, wind was generating less than 100 MW by 1 p.m. the next day. “These were interesting milestones in the history of wind generation in the Northwest,” says Elliot Mainzer, executive vice president for Corporate Strategy at BPA.
When the wind generation exceeded hydro generation that early morning, it represented about 38 percent of regional and export load. The events posed no operational problems for BPA, indicating how much it has learned as it has integrated vast amounts of wind power. Read on at: http://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/Pages/default.aspxLink source: http://www.sustainablepractices.info
When the wind generation exceeded hydro generation that early morning, it represented about 38 percent of regional and export load. The events posed no operational problems for BPA, indicating how much it has learned as it has integrated vast amounts of wind power. Read on at: http://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/Pages/default.aspxLink source: http://www.sustainablepractices.info