Abstract
The potential of wind energy conversion systems (WECS) in a regional electric utility system was investigated. The Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KG&E) with 1800 MW generating capacity served as the case study subject.
The general methodologies utilized to conduct a case study of this nature are outlined and then applied to investigate the impacts of WECS on the specific electric utility system selected for this study. Five years of concurrent wind/load data were used to simulate 15 years of KG&E system operation without and with WECS. The KG&E system simulation computer programs were used to model hour-by-hour operation and to generate fuel requirements, production costs, and other reports. The “loss-of-load probability” (LOLP) index was also calculated for the system without and with WECS, from whcih the effective capacity of WECS was determined. Economic analysis was performed to assess the value of WECS in the KG&E system, and breakeven WECS costs were calculated by considering WECS as “fuel saver”, plus extra tax credit and capacity credit.