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Building Systems Program Seminar Series
Wind Integration in Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo)
Speaker: James Himelic
Associate Analyst, Xcel Energy
Thursday, April 9, 2009
5:00 – 6:00 pm
University of Colorado at Boulder
Engineering Center
Room ECCR 1B51
Abstract:
Xcel Energy’s Wind Integration movement is a multifaceted approach towards addressing issues arising from the integration of wind energy into the bulk electric power grid. The objective of Wind Integration is to identify technology and methodologies that will enable the company to bring additional wind capacity online in a cost-effective, sound manner by accurately and reliably predicting the magnitude, timing, and duration of wind-related ramping events. One component of Wind Integration is the Advanced Wind Instrumentation Project (AWIP), Xcel Energy’s concept for a forward-thinking atmospheric sensing field campaign that will evaluate the ability of high-resolution, site-specific atmospheric observations to reduce short-term forecast error and uncertainty specific to a Colorado wind farm. Xcel Energy will work with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Vaisala to better understand forecasting capabilities and limitations as well as the functional dependency of wind-related grid operations on local atmospheric conditions. Xcel Energy will use the results of AWIP to determine if the proposed concept is fiscally viable at other wind sites in its service territories.
Bio:
Jim Himelic is an Associate Analyst with Xcel Energy’s Utility Innovations Department. Jim has worked for the company since May 2007. He is currently the lead analyst on the Wind-to-Battery (W2B) project and the Advanced Wind Instrumentation Project (AWIP). Jim graduated with a MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado in August 2008 and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona in May 2006. Jim can be reached at james.b.himelic@xcelenergy.com.
Note: The BSP seminar series is also viewable through google calendars at this link.
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