Background
Located in Haskell, Texas, the Horse Creek wind project’s nameplate capacity is 230 MW. Interconnection point: American Electric Power (AEP)’s 345 KV Smoky Hill substation. The proposed 230 MW project consisted of 100 GE 2.3-116 wind turbines, each having an 80-meter hub above ground level and a 116-meter rotor diameter. Each wind turbine is rated at 2.3 MW and connected to one 2600 kVA, 3-phase, 2-winding turbine’s step-up transformer.
Challenge
EPE provided engineering support with the interconnection, registration, testing and commissioning of the 230 MW Horse Creek Wind project with ERCOT. EPE also performed a Sub-Synchronous Oscillation (SSO) analysis to determine if the proposed 230 MW Horse Creek Wind project may become radially connected to a series compensated transmission line under specific contingency conditions and, in turn, experience SSO disturbances causing risk to the project or the ERCOT grid.
Approach
EPE updated and assisted in the submission of the RARF of the Horse Creek Wind through the ERCOT Market Information System site. The team also completed the commissioning plan narrative for the project in accordance with ERCOT’s latest Interconnection Handbook.
Additionally, EPE:
- Completed and provided
- technical support during the Lagging/ Leading reactive power tests.
- Conducted Primary Frequency Response
- and Automatic Voltage Regulator tests.
- Performed a generator/grid frequency scan
- to determine any potential resonant points that may coincide with the grid side frequency scan.
As a second step, EPE completed a detailed SSO study using a PSCAD™ model made up of the equivalent project model and the equivalent AEP system model representing the area of concern for SSO.
Outcome
Horse Creek Wind RARF passed programmatic Nodal Common Information Model screening rules currently in effect for Resource, Transmission and Planning parameters. Horse Creek Wind also passed all tests required by ERCOT and that EPE performed.
EPE’s SSO study concluded that Horse Creek Wind is not susceptible to SSO disturbances. AEP accepted EPE’s SSO study results, and ERCOT granted approval to synchronize Horse Creek Wind to the ERCOT grid.
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