Assessment of risk-based capacity benefit factors associated with wind energy conversion systems

A wind energy conversion system (WECS) has a different impact on the load carrying capability of a generating system than does a conventional energy conversion system. This is mainly due to the variation in wind velocity. Two risk-based capacity indices designated as load carrying capacity benefit ratio (LCCBR) and equivalent capacity rate (ECR) are introduced in this paper. These two indices can be used to indicate capacity benefit and credit of a WECS, and thus provide valuable information for energy policy makers in decision problems involving the selection and classification of wind sites. A midpoint sectionalized technique has been developed to calculate the incremental peak load carrying capability (IPLCC) and to assess the LCCBR and ECR. The technique is effective and usually takes only a few iterations to obtain the indices. Sequential Monte Carlo simulation is utilized to estimate the adequacy of a generating systems including WECS. A small reliability test system containing WECS is utilized to illustrate the proposed technique.