EnerNex Team Awarded Minnesota Statewide Wind Integration Study.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- EnerNex Corporation announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential operational impacts of wind generation on utility power systems in the state. EnerNex has enlisted the assistance of WindLogics and AREVA T&D to perform this work. This study will build on a 2004 EnerNex study of the Xcel Energy-NSP control area for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, but will expand to include all electric utilities serving Minnesota customers.

The study focuses on the potential impacts on reliability and costs associated with increasing wind capacity to 20 percent of Minnesota retail energy sales by 2020. It will identify and develop options to manage the impacts of wind resources. The Reliability Administrator of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is administering the project at the direction of the Minnesota Legislature. The EnerNex team will closely coordinate with the utilities and the Minnesota Reliability Administrator on the project.

The study will evaluate the effects of wind generation and variability on Balancing Authority regulation and load following requirements via high-resolution simulation of coordinated generation dispatch and control in the Midwest Independent System Operator control area. The initial evaluation will focus on benchmark and base generation expansion scenarios. Results will be analyzed to determine major drivers for integration cost and market impacts. On this basis, a number of potential solutions will be identified and evaluated.

According to EnerNex Vice-President Bob Zavadil, the key components for the project include accurate modeling and forecasting of wind patterns with simulation and analysis of power system operations: "This study builds on methodologies used in the 2004 study, and extends them to address the additional complexities and scope related to such a significant amount of wind generation in a large competitive energy market. The overall effort begins with an investigation of the wind patterns in the Upper Midwest to yield the most accurate models possible. Wind generation forecast accuracy will also be evaluated with the results forming a basis for the power system operational analysis. For our earlier study, we proposed a well-respected team of experts and a unique approach that Xcel Energy and Minnesota officials determined best met their needs."

EnerNex Corporation provides engineering and consulting services for energy producers, distributors, users, and research organizations. For more information, visit www.enernex.com.