Quantifying System Adequacy Benefit of Wind Power Diversity

Electric energy generation from renewable sources has received considerable public support due to growing concerns about adverse environmental impacts from conventional energy sources. As wind power is environmentally friendly and suitable for bulk power generation, it is one of the fastest growing energy sources in meeting global electric energy demand. Many electric power systems are being connected to multiple wind farms that have diverse wind speed characteristics. Power systems with large wind power penetrations are subject to large fluctuations in power generation causing considerable reliability concerns in system planning and operation. Diversity in wind farms characteristics helps mitigate overall power fluctuations, and can therefore have considerable influence in system reliability. This paper analyzes wind site profiles in Saskatchewan and quantifies the benefit of wind farm diversification in the overall generation adequacy of the electric power system in Saskatchewan.