Large-Scale Wind Power Grid Integration: Technological and Regulatory Issues

Large-Scale Wind Power Grid Integration

Technological and Regulatory Issues

Editors

Ningbo Wang

Chongqing Kang

Dongming Ren

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

Preface

Part 1. Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Technology

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1. Overview of Wind Power Development

1.2. Characteristics of Large-scale Wind Power Development

1.3. Challenges of Large-scale Wind Power Development

Chapter 2. Analysis of Wind Power Characteristics

2.1. Basic Attributes of Wind Power

2.2. Fluctuation and Randomness of Wind Power Generation

2.3. Correlation and Complementarity of Wind Power Generation

2.4. Upstream and Downstream Effect of Wind Power Generation

Chapter 3. Simulation Calculations for Wind Power Transmission Capability

3.1. Technical Specifications on Integration Operation of Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs)

3.2. Mathematical Model of WTGs and Wind Farms

3.3. Security and Stability Analysis on Wind Power Integration of Simple Systems

3.4. Security and Stability Analysis on Integration of Jiuquan Wind Power Base, Gansu, 2010

3.5. Analysis on Reactive Voltage Characteristics with Consideration to Internal Electrical Wiring of Wind Farms

3.6. Evaluation Software for Wind Power Accommodation Capability

Chapter 4. System Stability and Control Technologies after Large-Scale Wind Power Integration

4.1. Impact of Large-Scale Wind Power Integration on Grid Protection

4.2. Impact of Large-Scale Wind Power Integration on Stability of Power System

4.3. Impact of Large-Scale WTG Disintegrations on Grid Stability and Prevention and Control Measures

4.4. FACTS-Based Automatic Voltage Control of Hexi Transmission Channel

4.5. Power Dispatch Technology after Large-Scale WTG Integration

Chapter 5. Prediction and Forecast of Wind Power

5.1. Introduction to Prediction and Forecast of Wind Power

5.2. Study of Wind Power Prediction Models

5.3. Building of Short-Term Prediction Models for Wind Farms

5.4. Extra-Short-Term Wind Power Prediction and Forecast

Chapter 6. Wind Power Peak-Valley Regulation and Frequency Control Technology

6.1. Peak-Valley Regulation and Frequency Control Measures Adopted by Large-Scale Wind Power Bases

6.2. Thermal Power Generator System In-depth and Rapid Peak-Valley Regulation Technology

6.3. Energy Storage Technologies

6.4. Demand Response

Part 2. Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Policy Research

Chapter 7. Analysis and Demonstration of Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Plan

7.1. Approaches for Large-Scale Wind Power Accommodation

7.2. Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission Scale and Mode

7.3. Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission Market and Cost

Chapter 8. Present Situation and Problems of Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Policy

8.1. International Policy and Experience

8.2. Supporting Policies and Implementation in China

8.3. Domestic Supporting Policy Demand

Chapter 9. Proposal on Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Supporting Policy

9.1. Establish Renewable Portfolio Standard

9.2. Improve Wind Power Construction Administration System and Policy

9.3. Improve Power System Dispatching Administration and Policy

9.4. Reasonably Guide Local High Energy Power Load

9.5. Encourage Green Electricity Consumption

Chapter 10. Plan for Applying Supporting Policy in Gansu Jiuquan Wind Power Base

10.1. Improve Ancillary Service System Focusing on Peak-Valley Regulation

10.2. Tap Internal Consumption Potentials

10.3. Optimize Power Source Structure and Layout

10.4. Synchronously Promote Power Grid Transmission Channel Construction in Gansu and Northwest China

10.5. Implement Wind Power Transprovincial and Transregional Transmission and Market Accommodation Approaches and Security Mechanisms

10.6. Improve Wind Power Long-Distance Transmission and Accommodation Price Policy

Chapter 11. Development and Prospect

11.1. Large-Scale Wind Power Bases Lead the Future Wind Power Development

11.2. Study and Improve Relevant Supporting Policies

11.3. Important Research Subjects on Future New Energy

Appendix A. China's 10GW Wind Power Base Planning

Appendix B. Statistics of China's and World Wind Power Data

Appendix C. Domestic and Foreign Wind Power Technology Standards

Index

Copyright

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Preface

China's economic development has been increasingly constrained by energy, resources, and environment. As a kind of new energy power generation characterized by mature technology, low cost, rich resources, and broad commercial prospects, wind power has attracted much attention. Accelerating wind power development can implement the Chinese government's commitment to tackling climate change. In addition, it is also the inherent demand of China's sustainable development of economy.

In China, wind energy resources are abundant in west and north area while electric loads reside mainly in east and south area far away. Due to this distinctive feature of reverse distribution of wind power and electric loads, wind power manifests a mode of large-scale concentrated development and long-distance transmission in China. As China's first 10  GW wind power base, Jiuquan Wind Power Base is typically representative of constructing 10  GW wind power bases 1000  km away from the load center. After six consecutive years of rapid development, China's total installed capacity of wind power has ranked first in the world, and some regions with rich wind energy resources have entered a new age where large-scale wind power and conventional energy coexist. Different from the development mode in the United States and European countries where small-scale wind farms are usually near the load center, most of China's planned wind power bases are far away from the load center. In regions such as Inner Mongolia and Gansu that abound in wind energy resources and approach large installed wind power ratio, wind power development encounters technical problems such as peak-valley regulation and frequency control as well as safe and stable operation. The conflict between large-scale wind power transmission and market accommodation is even more prominent and has become the key urgent problem restricting large-scale wind power development.

Since the technical and policy problems arising from large-scale wind power concentrated development and long-distance transmission are unprecedented in the world, we have no successful experience to go by. As a result, it is urgent to carry out studies on the technology and policy of large-scale wind power transmission and accommodation. In view of the key technical demand of Jiuquan Wind Power Base and based on the practical experience of Jiuquan Wind Power Base construction and operation, State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company Wind Power Technology Center, cooperating with relevant domestic scientific research institutes and colleges and universities, has undertaken many key technology and policy research projects at the national, provincial, ministerial, and state grid corporation level.

This book gathers the research achievements of cooperative research between State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company Wind Power Technology Center and China Electric Power Research Institute, Tsinghua University and Energy Research Institute National Development and Reform Commission and tries to study and explore the technical and policy issues on wind power transmission and accommodation of large-scale wind power bases with Chinese characteristics. This book mainly probes the technology and policy of large-scale wind power transmission and accommodation including analysis of wind power characteristics, wind power transmission capacity simulation calculation, system stability and control technology with large-scale wind power integrated, wind power forecasting, wind power peak-valley regulation and frequency control technology. This book also focuses on a series of key technical measures to improve wind power receiving capacity and policy proposals on transprovincial and transregional transmission and accommodation. We hope that this book will provide technology and policy research support for the realization of large-scale wind power transmission and accommodation and serve as reference for China's and even the world's large-scale wind power base construction.

Organized by State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company Wind Power Technology Center, this book was generally edited by Ningbo Wang and reviewed by Shien He. The division of editing work was as follows: Ningbo Wang, Chapter 1; Guojie Li and Jing Zhi, Chapter 2; Kun Ding and Dunwen Song, Chapter 3; Dezhi Chen and Kun Ding, Chapter 4; Yanhong Ma and Shuanglei Feng, Chapter 5; Kun Ding and Jing Zhi, Chapter 6; Chongqing Kang and Jing Zhi, Chapter 7; Jiandong Wang and Wei Xu, Chapter 8; Dongming Ren, Yongqiang Zhao and Jingli Shi, Chapter 9; Ningbo Wang and Jiandong Wang, Chapters 10 and 11; Yanhong Ma and Ming Ma, the Appendixes; Guangtu Liu, Long Zhao, Jin Li, Jinping Zhang, Qiang Zhou, Shiyuan Zhou, Liang Lu, Dingmei Wang, and Ming Ma wrote some drafts and collected data. Shiying Ma, Chaohui, Hong Shen, Yongning Chi, Dezhi Chen, Shuanglei Feng, Bin Huang, Dunwen Song, and Bo Wang from China Electric Power Research Institute, Chongqing Kang, Guojie Li, Wei Xu, Ning Zhang, Tianrui Zhou and Qianyao Xu from Tsinghua University, and Dongming Ren, Yongqiang Zhao, Jingli Shi, Ye Tao and Linji Qiao from Energy Research Institute National Development and Reform Commission participated in the research on relevant subjects and reviewed relevant chapters. In addition, in editing this book, we had help and support from Meng Zhaojun, professor and senior engineer of Hubei Electric Power Research Institute and Professor Yan Zheng of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Here we extend our sincere thanks to them! In editing the English version of this book, we have had help and support from Professor Yuan Xiaoming of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Professor Cai Xu of Shanghai Jiaotong University.

With our deep gratitude, the publication of this book was supported by the Chinese High-tech R&D (863) Program (2012AA05023).

Technologies of large-scale wind power base need to be improved and their practical experience is yet to be accumulated. Due to the editors' limited ability, omissions and improprieties are inevitable. We sincerely look forward to the comments and suggestions from the readers.

Ningbo Wang, Chongqing Kang,  and Dongming Ren

Part 1

Large-Scale Wind Power Transmission and Accommodation Technology

Outline

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Analysis of Wind Power Characteristics

Chapter 3. Simulation Calculations for Wind Power Transmission Capability

Chapter 4. System Stability and Control Technologies after Large-Scale Wind Power Integration

Chapter 5. Prediction and Forecast of Wind Power

Chapter 6. Wind Power Peak-Valley Regulation and Frequency Control Technology

Chapter 1

Introduction

Ningbo Wang

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the development status of wind power in the world, in China, and in the Jiuquan wind power base, respectively. It introduces the collection and delivery status of wind power generated by Jiuquan wind power base and analyzes the integration challenges.

Keywords

Delivery status; Development mode; Installed capacity; Integration challenges; Large scale; Production situation; Wind power; Wind power base

1.1. Overview of Wind Power Development

1.1.1. Basic Information on Wind Power Development

1.1.1.1. Wind power development in foreign countries

In recent years world wind power has developed rapidly. By the end of 2014, the world installed wind power capacity had reached 369.55  GW. Wind power production has developed very rapidly in the United States (US). In 1999, the installed capacity of wind power in the US was only 2  GW while in 2014 it already reached 65.88  GW. In a short span of 15  years, the US's total installed capacity of wind power grew by 31.69 times and now it is ranked the second in the world. Germany's total installed capacity of wind power is ranked the third in the world and the first in Europe. In 2014, its total installed capacity of wind power reached 39.17  GW, accounting for about 22% of Germany's total installed capacity and about 11% of its total power consumption. Spain's installed capacity of wind power is ranked the fourth in the world, and its wind power has developed the most rapidly in Europe. In 2014, its installed capacity of wind power reached 22.99  GW, accounting for about 20% of its total installed capacity and about 16% of its total power consumption. India's installed capacity of wind power is ranked fifth in the world. In 2014, its total installed capacity of wind power reached 22.47  GW. Denmark developed wind power quite early. In 2014, its installed capacity of wind power was 4.84  GW, accounting for 25% of its total installed capacity and 23% of its power consumption. It was the country with the world's largest installed wind power ratio.

European and American countries have a larger ratio of installed wind power capacity to total installed capacity. In European and American countries, wind power develops in this pattern: the government makes laws, regulations, and relevant policies and guides enterprises to meet the market demand. Wind power development in European and American countries is mainly characterized by: being close to the power load center; being small in scale; having multiple owners; and widely distributed.

Onshore wind power is mainly generated by distributed wind farms close to the load center in the pattern of small-scale development, distributed connection with low-voltage grid and accommodation on the spot, which has a slight impact on the grid. For large-scale offshore wind power, which has developed rapidly in recent years, these countries adopt the transmission mode of high-voltage centralized connection, which is similar to China's wind power base development mode. However, the construction scale is restricted by the grid's receptivity; single offshore wind farms are in relatively smaller scale and distributed; points of common coupling are scattered; and wind power is balanced and transmitted on the spot, which also has a slight impact on the grid. European and American countries have powerful power system structure, and most regions with rapid wind power development are located in the central grid. As a result, they have strong ability to withstand wind power fluctuation. In addition, European and American countries boast sound wind farm planning, construction and operation and management systems, rich experience in wind farm operation and management, high level of wind power equipment manufacturing technology, and complete wind farm integration standards and regulations. Wind power has a slight impact on the operation of the power system.

1.1.1.2. Wind power development in China

Although China started wind power production quite late, its installed wind power capacity has grown rapidly. Since the Law of the People's Republic of China on Renewable Energy was issued in 2006, the annual growth of China's installed wind power capacity has approached approximately 80%. By the end of 2014, China's total installed wind power capacity had reached 114.76  GW, ranked the first in the world. In 2014, China's newly installed wind power capacity was 23.35  GW, accounting for 45% of that year's global newly installed wind power capacity. In 2014, regions with larger installed wind power capacity mainly included Inner Mongolia (20.70  GW), Gansu (10.08  GW), Hebei (9.63  GW), Xinjiang (8.04  GW), Shandong (6.26  GW), Liaoning (6.08  GW), Shangxi (4.41  GW), Heilongjiang (4.31  GW), Ningxia (4.18  GW), Jilin (4.08  GW), and Jiangsu (3.02  GW). China has identified nine 10-GW wind power bases in Jiuquan in Gansu, western Inner Mongolia, eastern Inner Mongolia, Hami in Xinjiang, Hebei, Jilin, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Heilongjiang. The total planned installed wind power capacity of these nine wind power bases reaches 160  GW. In addition, China has approved many 1  GW wind power bases and provincial governments have approved numerous 50  MW wind power projects. As a result, in the coming few years China will continue to maintain rapid development of wind power. It is predicted that by 2020 China's total installed wind power capacity will exceed 200  GW.

Far away from the load center, most regions with rich wind power resources in China adopt the construction mode of large-scale concentrated development. With weak grid structure, the local power grid is weak in accepting wind power. The scale of single wind farms or total installed capacity of wind power requiring centralized transmission has become increasingly larger; the voltage level of wind power integrated with the power grid has become higher and higher; and wind power transmission distance has become longer and longer. As a result, although wind power accounts for a smaller proportion of the total installed capacity of the power system, due to large local scale and being far away from the load center, most 10  GW and million-kilowatt wind power bases are located at the end of the power grid. The conflict between the wind power integration and transmission has become very prominent. Additionally, with a low level of wind power equipment manufacturing technology, lack of relevant wind power technology standards, and imperfect management system, the rapid development of China's wind power has already affected the safe and stable operation of the power system. See Figure 1.1, China's 10  GW Wind Power Base Installed Capacity Planning.

1.1.2. Background of Wind Power Development

With the rapid development of China's economy, China's energy demand has also increased rapidly, especially since 1990. Total energy consumption nationwide increased from 987  million t standard coal in 1990 to 4.07  billion t standard coal in 2013, growing by 4.12 times. China has exceeded the US and become the world's largest energy consumer. Since 1993, China has changed from an oil exporter to an oil importer. In 2009, China relied on imports for more than half of its oil demand, and the net import of China's traditional bulk export product coal also exceeded 100  million t. In 2011, China exceeded Japan and became the world's largest coal importer. On the other hand, in the international market the rapidly rising fossil energy price, especially the great fluctuation of price since 2006, has made a certain impact on China's economic development. Ensuring energy security has become the internal demand of China's economic development.

Figure 1.1  China's 10   GW wind power base installed capacity planning.

For a long time China's energy consumption structure mainly consisted of coal. In 2013, coal accounted for as high as 67.5% of China's total energy consumption, at a high level in the world. Rapid growth of energy demand and energy structure mainly including coal resulted in China's main pollutant emission indexes staying at a high level. China has become the world's largest emitter of pollutants such as CO2, SO2, NOx, and dust.

In 2009, the Chinese government promised that by 2020 CO2 emissions per unit of GDP will be reduced by 40–50% as compared with 2005 and nonfossil energy will account for about 15% of primary energy consumption, thus making unprecedented expectations and requirements for China's clean energy development scale and speed. Although the Chinese government has in recent years adopted a series of effective measures including energy saving, emission reduction, and developing renewable energy trying to reduce the proportion of fossil energy in energy consumption, in 2013 China's consumption of nonfossil energy including hydropower, nuclear power, and wind power was about 3.91  million t standard coal, only accounting for about 9.6% of total energy consumption (and the proportion of other renewable energy except hydropower was quite low). There exists a big gap between the actual condition of China's nonfossil energy development and the Chinese government's goal. The energy structure needs to be adjusted substantially. In addition, the 2011 Fukushima (Japan) nuclear power plant accident has increased the uncertainty of nuclear power development. As a result, in order to fulfill its commitment to the world, further acceleration of the development of renewable energy such as hydropower, wind power, and solar power has become the Chinese government's inevitable choice.

In the renewable energy sector, hydropower development technology is the most mature. At present almost all hydropower projects meeting the requirements are complete, under construction, or about to start. Newly planned hydropower projects are restricted by factors such as land resources, environmental protection, ecological protection, and relocation of residents. The development of hydropower projects involving international rivers are especially restricted by more complicated international environments, which further increases the uncertainty of hydropower development. Wind power is the renewable energy with the most mature development technology and lowest cost, second to hydropower. It is also the renewable energy with the most large-scale development value. With the rising fossil energy price in the international market, the generation cost of wind power has approached that of traditional thermal power and nuclear power, far lower than that of other renewable energy such as biomass and solar power. In recent years with the constant improvement of the level of wind power equipment manufacturing, the economies of scale of large-scale wind power development have begun to emerge, and China's wind power construction costs have trended to reduce yearly.

1.1.3. Choice of Large-scale Wind Power Development Mode

Regions rich in wind power resources in China are mainly concentrated in Three-North (Northwest China, North China, and Northeast China) areas such as Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Jilin, and Heilongjiang and boast the advantage of large-scale concentrated development. China's wind power development is resource oriented and its wind power resources are concentrated in Three-North areas, which results in the prominent characteristic of wind power planning and construction and demand in the electricity market being reversely distributed.

1.2. Characteristics of Large-scale Wind Power Development

China's large-scale wind power development, represented by seven 10  GW wind power bases, has prominent characteristics. We will use Gansu Jiuquan Wind Power Base as an example and herein introduce the main characteristics of China's large-scale wind power development.

1.2.1. Wind Power Resources and Development Conditions

Gansu is one of China's provinces rich in wind power resources. Gansu's wind power resources are mainly concentrated in the Hexi Corridor area. Located at the west end of the Hexi Corridor area, Jiuquan has an area of 192,000  km², about 2% of the total area of China. According to China Wind Energy Resource Assessment (2009) issued by the China Meteorological Administration, 10  GW wind power bases in Jiuquan and Gansu together have an area of 47,000  km² with wind power resources of above Class 3 at a height of 50  m, potential wind power development capacity of 210  GW, and developable installed capacity of 82  GW, at the forefront in China.

In the north of the Jiuquan Wind Power Base development area are the Beishan Mountains, with Mazong Mountain as representative; in the center is the flat Gobi Desert; in the south are the Qilian Mountains. The terrain of one valley between two mountains forms the west wind passageway. The wind speed in this area ranges between 4.0 and 12  m/s. The annual average wind speed is between 5.0 and 6.5  m/s; the annual effective wind power reserves are above 800  kWh/m²; the annual average effective wind power density is above 150  W/m²; the annual effective wind speed utilization hours are more than 6000  h. This is one of the areas most suitable for constructing large wind farms. See Figure 1.2, Wind Power Resource Distribution in Gansu.

Figure 1.2  Map of wind power resource distribution in Gansu. China wind energy resource assessment (2009).

Compared with other areas in China rich in wind power resources, Jiuquan Wind Power Base has unique advantages and characteristics and good conditions for the construction of a large-scale wind power base, featuring the following:

1. The area boasts sound climate conditions that are conducive to the safe and stable operation of wind turbine generator systems (referred to briefly as wind turbines). Compared to other wind power bases, the planned Jiuquan Wind Power Base is characterized by stable wind direction, low wind speed change rate, stable wind power resources, and small interannual variation. The average wind speed is large in winter and spring and small in summer and autumn, which is almost identical to the power load. The annual average effective utilization hours are more than 6000  h, which is conducive to increasing wind turbine power generation utilization hours. Within the planned area there are no typhoons or other destructive wind speeds, and the wind speed seldom exceeds the maximum wind turbine operating wind speed, which is conducive to reducing wind turbine manufacturing costs and increasing wind power generating capacity. With little rain, low relative humidity, and no salt mist, this area is almost free from the risk of erosion, making it conducive to the long-time safe and stable operation of wind turbines.

2. The wind farm covers a large area that is conducive to the development and construction of a large-scale wind power base. Jiuquan city has a population of 1  million who are concentrated in the oasis area. A land area of more than 100,000  km² remains unused. As a result, this area is sparsely populated and rich in land resources. The planned Jiuquan Wind Power Base is located in the flat and open Gobi Desert, and most of the land is in the original ecological condition. There is no problem of occupation of cultivated land and grassland, overlaid minerals, or relocation and resettlement of local residents. As a result, the land cost is quite low. This area has the ideal conditions for constructing a large-scale wind power base.

3. The area has good construction conditions, which are conducive to reducing the construction costs of the wind power project. The geological structure of this area is generally stable. The maximum depth of frozen ground is about 2.0  m; the rock soil has relatively good physical and mechanical properties and can meet the basic wind turbine construction requirements. This area boasts a developed traffic network of highway and railway. Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-Speed Railway and railway lines for passenger traffic, national highways, and expressways under construction pass through the wind power base. It is endowed by unique transport conditions. Large wind power equipment with powerful carrying capacity can be delivered directly into the wind farm through railway and then highway and transferred to where the wind turbines are located throughout the flat Gobi Desert. Gansu-Xinjiang Main Grid 750  kV Transmission Line passes through the wind power base. The 750  kV Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Shazhou and Qiaowan Substations are located near the planned wind power base, which is conducive to the connection and transformation of wind power generated in the wind farm.

1.2.2. Large-scale Wind Power Base Planning and Construction

Jiuquan Wind Power Base is one of China's seven planned 10  GW wind power bases and the first approved national 10  GW wind power base. It is predicted that by the end of 2015, Jiuquan Wind Power Base will have an installed capacity of 15.98  GW.

By the end of 2014 there were 84 integrated wind farms in Gansu province and the total installed wind power capacity had reached 10.08  GW, a year-on-year increase of 3.05  GW, or up 43.49%, which accounted for 24.05% of the total installed capacity in Gansu. Jiuquan Wind Power Base has 62 integrated wind farms and an installed wind power capacity of 8.50  GW, which is one of the wind power bases with the world's largest concentrated integration scale. See Figure 1.3, Schematic Diagram of Jiuquan Wind Power Base Wind Power Project Planning.

1.2.3. Large-scale Wind Power Grid Connection and Transmission

The Jiuquan Wind Power Base first phase project is mainly concentrated in Yumen and Guazhou. The 8.49  GW wind power is mainly collected and transmitted to Gansu 750  kV Power Grid through thirteen 330  kV substations. The wind power generated in Jiuquan Wind Power Base is transmitted to Gansu Power Grid through the 750  kV power transmission and transformation project. On November 3, 2010, the Jiuquan 10  GW Wind Power Base supporting project, 750  kV Hexi power transmission and transformation project, was completed and put into operation. With the total newly constructed substation capacity of 8400  MVA, this project mainly includes building three new 750  kV transformer substations in Dunhuang, Jiuquan, and Hexi, expanding Wusheng 750  kV transformer substation, and building the 1696-km-long Wusheng-Hexi-Jiuquan-Dunhuang 750  kV Double-Circuit Transmission Line. This project is the 750  kV power grid project with the largest construction scale and investment both in China and in the world, as well as the power construction project with the largest investment scale in Northwest China.

Figure 1.3  Schematic diagram of Jiuquan wind power base wind power project planning.

Almost 60% of the wind power generated in Jiuquan Wind Power Base is collected into the 750  kV Dunhuang substation and integrated with the 330  kV bus. The wind power of such a large-scale wind power base is collected and integrated to the power grid through one substation, which is not only different from the wind power development mode in Europe and America but also quite different from the existing wind power development mode in China. In the normal operation mode, the vast majority of wind power is transmitted to the Lanzhou Load Center 1000  km away for accommodation. It is one of the wind power bases with the largest integration scale, longest transmission distance, and highest collection and transmission voltage level in the world. See Figure 1.4, Schematic Diagram of Jiuquan Wind Power Base First Phase Project Collection and Transmission.

Figure 1.4  Schematic diagram of Jiuquan wind power base first phase project collection and transmission.

In order to meet the requirements for the transmission and accommodation of the remaining 5  GW wind power, the Jiuquan-Hunan ±800  kV HVDC Transmission Line project was planned in 2014. See Figure 1.5, Schematic Diagram of Jiuquan Wind Power Base Second Phase Project Power Transmission Planning.

Seven integrated 330  kV step-up substations collecting wind power are equipped with Static Var Compensation/Generation (SVC/SVG) devices with the standard of 15–18% of the wind power grid connection capacity, respectively. With a total wind power capacity of 700  Mvar, they can realize voltage and reactive power balance at wind farm points of common coupling. The SVC/SVG device is installed on the low-voltage side of the wind power collecting 330  kV hub substation to effectively inhibit the impact of wind power output fluctuation on the bus voltage, provide dynamic reactive power support, suppress harmonic wave, and improve the system transient stability and steady-state voltage regulation capability. See Figure 1.6, Schematic Diagram of Jiuquan Wind Power Base First Phase Project Var Compensation.

1.2.4. Actual Operation of Large-scale Wind Power

By the end of 2014, Gansu Power Grid had generated power of 11.5  TWh accumulatively. The maximum wind power generation output in Gansu reached 5.02  GW on the maximum day, accounting for 44% of the then total power load in Gansu and equivalent to 52% of the lowest power load in Gansu on that day.

Figure 1.5  Schematic diagram of Jiuquan wind power base second phase project power transmission planning.

The Jiuquan-Zhuzhou ±800  kV HVDC transmission line project will be constructed in 2015. With a transmission distance of 2690  km, it starts from Qiaowan, Jiuquan and ends in Zhuzhou, Hunan province.

As the typical demonstration project of large-scale concentrated wind power development mode, Jiuquan Wind Power Base is ranked seventh in the 2014 World National Total Installed Wind Power Capacity Ranking. Since the start of 2014, the maximum wind power generation output and daily power generating capacity of Jiuquan Wind Power Base have constantly set new highs. Both the proportion of daily wind power generating capacity in total power consumption and the proportion of maximum wind power generation output in maximum power load are approaching that of Denmark. The wind power generating capacity, maximum generation output, and utilization coefficient have also reached the highest level in history. The main economic benefits of wind farms in Jiuquan Wind Power Base have improved significantly.

Under the circumstances of power rationing, in 2014 with the actually operated wind power generation output in Gansu below 40%, the appearing probability of installed capacity was 86%: in the interval of generation output ranging 0–10%, the apparent probability of installed capacity was 32%; in the interval of generation output ranging 10–20%, 20–30%, and 30–40% the apparent probability of installed capacity was 23%, 16%, and 15%, respectively. When the actual operated wind power generation output in Gansu was above 40%, the apparent probability of installed capacity was 14%: in the interval of generation output ranging 40–50%, 50–60%, and more than 60%, the apparent probability of installed capacity was 10%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. See Figure 1.7, Jiuquan Wind Power Base Wind Power Generation Output Probability Distribution.

Figure 1.6  Schematic diagram of Jiuquan wind power base first phase project Var compensation.

Judging from the statistics of power generating capacity, under the circumstances of severe peak load power rationing, Jiuquan Wind Power Base has the distinctive characteristic of reverse peak-valley regulation. From 12  a.m. to 6  a.m. the proportion of wind power generating capacity is 44%; from 6  a.m. to 12  p.m. it is 20%; from 12  p.m. to 6  p.m. it is 21%; from 6  p.m. to 12  a.m. it is 15%. See Figure 1.8, Jiuquan Wind Power Base Wind Power Generation Output Time Distribution.

1.3. Challenges of Large-scale Wind Power Development

The wind power development mode of large-scale concentrated construction and the reverse distribution of wind power resources and the electricity market will decide China's wind power development and will inevitably face a series of challenges.

Figure 1.7  Jiuquan wind power base wind power generation output probability distribution.

Figure 1.8  Jiuquan wind power base wind power generation output time distribution.

1.3.1. Power Transmission Capacity

After the Hexi 750  kV Power Grid and wind power collection projects are completed and operational, the power transmission capacity of the Hexi Power Grid will be about 5.5  GW. Given conventional power sources consume a certain transmission capacity, the wind power generation output limit is about 3.8  GW, which