Island is sufficiently close for wind turbines to make a significant contribution to generating system reliability, say experts. Ample capacity credits could significantly improve the economics of wind farms in many jurisdictions.
Predicting wind's capacity credit
A new computer programme for predicting wind's capacity credit on a utility system has been tested at the Atlantic Wind Test Site (AWTS) on Prince Edward Island using local wind and utility data. The software, developed by Montreal-based SNC-Shawinigan Inc for the Canadian Electrical Association, is based on an original mainframe programme by Hydro Quebec. Called PCSORMEC, it predicted that a hypothetical 10 MW wind farm in Prince Edward Island would provide about the same improvement in system reliability as a 4 MW conventional utility plant. In which case the wind plant could be awarded a 4 MW capacity credit. The seasonal and time of day correlation between wind power and electrical demand in Prince Edward
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