21st Century Solutions for 20th Century Wind Projects

Low cost and standardized upgrades that enable remote and efficient dispatch of aged wind turbines

Grid Decarbonization and Decentralization Variable Renewable Generation

Regents of the University of California, Davis

Recipient

Davis, CA

Recipient Location

3rd

Senate District

4th

Assembly District

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$672,149

Amount Spent

closed

Completed

Project Status

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Project Result

Through development of the innovative, real-time dispatch system for legacy turbines and implementation of a low-cost, robust form of remote communication and control, this project addressed a key technical barrier for legacy wind plants to efficiently and quickly dispatch turbines on or off as grid and market conditions demand. The economic analysis found that a properly-sized energy storage system has the potential to reduce peak loads and associated demand charges, with a payback period of three to four years. The remote dispatch system and forecast algorithm demonstrated successful operation during a three-month field test involving nine turbines at a wind plant in Tehachapi, California and the cost of the prototype control system was reduced by 82% compared to the cost of a similar commercial system. Information on the remote dispatch system and forecast algorithm are open-source.

The Issue

California has a large number of aged wind turbines. According to the American Wind Energy Association project database, there are approximately 4,500 sub-300 kW turbines operating in California with rudimentary control systems. Those old turbines lack remote communication and control systems and cannot be remotely dispatched on and off. During periods without wind, the turbines remain online and energized, drawing grid power at high retail rates and costing owners up to $100,000 per year.

Project Innovation

This project aimed to develop inexpensive, standardized turbine upgrades that will allow aged turbines to behave more similarly to modern turbines by dispatching on/off when it is beneficial. The upgrade was a low-cost, robust, wireless communication and control system. The project included installation of wireless communications and a field demonstration of the turbine upgrades and the forecasting algorithm at an operating wind plant in collaboration with CAISO and wind plant owners. A field test was carried out at an operating wind farm in the Tehachapi region.

Project Benefits

The innovative, real-time dispatch system for legacy turbines and implementation of a low-cost, robust form of remote communication and control developed under this agreement addressed the inability to efficiently and quickly on and off dispatch turbines when grid and market conditions demand. The project delivered a low cost standardized communication and control system for aged turbines capable of remote on/off dispatch, and created a grid, market, and weather forecasting system to enable automated dispatching of turbines in response to oversupply and low/no wind conditions.

Affordability

The project implements low-cost and reliable over-the-air remote communications and control for legacy wind turbines. The systems developed under this project reduced costs of communication and control systems for legacy turbines by 82 percent compared to existing systems. The turbine controller is composed of a radio module with a cost of $42/unit, interface electronics costing $300 per unit, antenna and cable totaling $10, and free software. This significant reduction in cost of control systems and increase in data quality enables increased use of such control systems in legacy turbines.

Reliability

The upgrades implemented in this project will increase grid reliability and limit needed grid adjustments by enabling dispatchability of legacy turbines. The forecasting algorithm of negative pricing events developed under this project saved $351.43 per MWh and forecasted 89 percent of negative pricing events.