Theme 4: Wind Energy Techno-Economics

TECHNO-ECONOMIC MODELLING AND OPTIMIZATION OF WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS

Theme Leader: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , University of Victoria

Many factors besides technical maturity determine the value of wind power and its successful deployment and integration into the power generation and distribution markets. The cost of wind-generated electricity depends strongly on the overall capacity factor which, in turn, is constrained by resource availability, load, interconnection strength, and other generation technologies on the grid. Thorough research is needed to develop models that incorporate these and other factors, and that will define scenarios in which wind generation will yield the maximum economic and environmental benefits for Canada.

Project 4.1: Transmission Congestion Management with Wind Generation - will investigate the multitude of issues surrounding transmission congestion management and wind power. Project outcomes will better delineate the transmission economics of wind integration as they affect increased wind production capacity.

Project 4.2: Optimal Bidding Strategies for Wind Generation - The innovative day-ahead bidding strategies proposed in this project will help wind operators to compete more successfully on the open electricity market.

Project 4.3: Hybrid Wind Energy Systems for Remote Communities - will develop a novel wind–storage–diesel system with sufficient storage capacity to make optimal use of available wind power in remote communities.

Project 4.4: Economics and Environmental Assessments of Wind Integration - will evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of large-scale wind penetration in the Canadian power generation system to determine how to maximize wind energy benefits for Canada. Theme 4 models will identify optimal scenarios for integrating higher levels of wind energy into Canadian utility grids in ways that are economically and environmentally viable.