Quantifying the total net benefits of grid integrated wind

Abstract

Throughout the world significant development is being encouraged in wind energy for electricity generation. A complete cost benefit analysis has been conducted in this paper on the impacts of grid connected wind generation. A dispatch model is used to determine the dispatches upon which the costs and benefits can be ascertained for different wind capacities, plant mixes and loads. These costs and benefits are then used to generate net benefit curves for wind generation and the level where the costs exceed the benefits is established. These penetration levels can then be used by policy makers to determine the appropriate quantity of wind generation to promote. A large number of assumptions are tested and it was found that increased interconnection, high CO2 prices and a flexible plant mix are particularly beneficial for wind generation, and that there are positive net benefits for wind energy penetrations of 17% and higher under the chosen set of assumptions for the test system.