Nicholas Wright Miller

Battery energy storage systems for electric utility, industrial and commercial applications

Voltage depressions and power interruptions are rapidly becoming two of the hottest topics in the field of power quality. Of particular interest is the need to supply a dependable, efficient and controllable source of real and reactive power, which is available instantly to support a large (>0.5 MVA) load, even if the utility connection is lost. This paper describes a versatile solution to this problem for utility, industrial and commercial applications using battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS have the potential to provide other substantial benefits in terms of improved voltage and energy management in conjunction with this protection from interruptions.

Integrating high levels of wind in Island systems: Lessons from Hawaii

Variability of power generation from intermittent resources such as wind and solar plants presents an operational challenge for grid operators. The economic incentives and technical challenges that accompany large amounts of variable generation in island power systems are often much greater. The Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, the Maui Electric Company and the Hawaii Electric Light Company have considerable experience in planning and operating power systems with relatively high levels of wind power. The islands of Hawaii and Maui operate power systems with high levels of wind power (more than 10% by energy) and have experienced and addressed challenges associated with the variability and uncertainty of wind power. The island of Maui is anticipating further wind plant deployments in the near future. Recent analyses of possible near-term deployment of large amounts of wind power on the Oahu power system (500MW of wind power; approximately 1200MW peak and 520MW minimum annual load) has shown the potential for this system to accept almost 25% of its energy from wind and solar power. This paper will identify some of the wind integration challenges and highlight the benefits of a variety of strategies that are expected to improve system economics and operational reliability, including proposed modifications to the baseload thermal fleet (deeper turndown, higher ramp rates, and tuned droop characteristics), advanced wind turbine grid support features, new operating strategies, wind forecasting and refinements to the up and down reserve requirements. This paper will present the key findings in the context of useful insights and lessons learned that are relevant to other island power systems considering very high levels of wind power.

A VRLA battery energy storage system for Metlakatla, Alaska

The emergence of new power electronics and improved battery technology has created renewed interest in battery energy storage systems (BESS). These new systems provide electric utilities with alternatives to conventional storage technologies, such as pumped hydro. BESS has the potential to provide substantial benefits in terms of energy management, improved voltage, spinning reserve and protection from interruptions when compared to large centralized storage. This paper describes a commercial, economically justified, application of the new BESS which is under construction in the Metlakatla Power and Light system. The paper outlines the system performance requirements which lead to consideration of BESS as an option; the economic factors which provided the justification for BESS as an economic alternative; and the overall BES system design and performance.

Planning and operations benefits of high fidelity voltage collapse simulations

Abstract New extended term dynamic simulations give utility planning and operations engineers the ability to conduct detailed studies which more realistically reflect the behaviour of power systems. In the paper, cases are shown in which conventional planning simulation techniques provide insufficient information for good decision making. Potential benefits of extended term dynamic analysis are demonstrated with additional examples.

GE Brilliant wind farms

Since the Brilliant wind platform was launched in early 2013, GE has developed and commercialized a host of hardware and software features to increase wind farm Annual Energy Production, improve services productivity, and open up new customer revenue streams. By utilizing advanced control algorithms and analytics coupled with deep domain expertise in power electronics and grid integration, GE is creating more with less - getting more power and efficiency out of existing hardware, taking an inherently variable wind resource and integrating it more smoothly onto the grid, managing the complexity of multiple turbines within a farm and multiple farms within a grid system, and making wind predictable and reliable even in areas with weak infrastructure. By harnessing the power of the industrial internet GE will continue to develop innovative features within the Brilliant wind platform, transforming the wind industry as we tackle the next generation of challenges and opportunities.