The impact of wind power variability and curtailment on ramping requirements

Abstract

In view of its variable nature, integrating large amounts of wind into a power grid generally aggravates the residual demand ramping requirements and stresses the generation ramping capabilities. Load following is the major area of impact when it comes to daily operation. The required load following service is addressed in two stages; day-ahead and intraday markets. This paper focuses on the day-ahead market that employs wind curtailment as a tool to control the ramping requirement of the residual demand, thereby, reducing the reliance on the expensive but flexible peaking units for load following purposes. The theoretical concept is provided and backed by simulation results and subsequent analysis.