Power transmission and small generators

In response to my question "What can I do- as an individual- to get more power transmission-lines built?" Dale Osborn, Transmission Technical Director, Midwest ISO provided insight to accomplishing building more lines in a lengthy, "food for action" reply. The following paragraphs are excerpts from Mr. Osborn's reply.

"MISO must be fair and its processes have to be transparent. The response to your letter will be available publicly."

"As a generator developer you have first choice to add generation to a power system. There are rules for transmission (transmission defined to be 100 kV and above) to interconnect and deliver energy to loads using the transmission system. However he voltage of the interconnection is not the determining issue."

""If you can develop loads that would use wind generation more efficiently, then you should pursue a business plan to match the loads and generation in South Dakota . The inference is that there is a possibility for South Dakota and other states to have contracts to supply wind energy to supply the RPS mandate. Generator revenue would be provided by RPS; transmission service would have to be paid."

"Only a few individuals could justify this business opportunity. Most probably, a consortium of government, business and the RTO’s- MISO and PJM as an example- would be required. Don't assume that all parties will agree. " [No solution is "obvious" or even a "solution."]

[Every small generator must follow] "federal regulations that require the speed or frequency of a power system be regulated. This ensures that motors don't slow down and burn out if the frequency slips too low as well as proper opperation of clocks, which rely on an unchanging frequency or speed of the generators in the system."

"Constant speed or frequency also makes it possible to interconnect utilities and account for energy exchange between the utilities."

[Wind is variable and intermittant; a single wind turbine can't deliver constant speed or frequency. Pervasive Dispersed Generation may be able to deliver constant speed or frequency.]

Rule
"Transmission Access can be purchased if it is available from MISO. If the transmission is not available and an entity wishes to pay for the transmission upgrades possible, then transmission can be made available."

"Transmission, as well as generation, has to have a source of revenue to pay for it; loads are the source of revenue for both generation and transmission. The micro approach is limited by the limited load in South Dakota. The market is limited as addressed below, but you should pursue the micro avenue if you can justify the business case to do so."

"The price of satisfying the wind mandate in the eastern states would have to be able to pay for the transmission. MISO states would probably not be willing to pay for the transmission to serve the wind mandates of the eastern states."

"The Minnesota Wind Integration Study and other studies in New York and California have shown that the value of wind energy is increased when wind resources are blended together over a large area with an adequate transmission system."

"If there is not an identifiable method to pay for the transmission, the states [their PUCs] would probably not allow the transmission revenue to be obtained from state customers who do not have a requirement for the generation."

"One constraint to the magnitude of wind generation development is the ability of other generation to regulate the system."

A later post will tell about MISO's situation for regulating the quality of wind power as it ensures the power is "always on."

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