 |
© Stockbyte
 |
In our 2009 issues, we have concentrated on renewable energy and the myriad of possibilities and problems they generate. We focused on smart grid, large-scale photovoltaics, energy storage, public policy worldwide, and in this issue wind power integration. In many ways these issue themes are totally intertwined, and we trust that the information conveyed in them has assisted our readers to better understand all that is involved.
Wind power produces about 1.5% of worldwide electricity use and is growing rapidly, having doubled in the three years between 2005 and 2008. Several countries have achieved relatively high levels of wind power penetration, such as 19% of stationary electricity production in Denmark, 11% in Spain and Portugal, and 7% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland in 2008. As of May 2009, 80 countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis.
Within the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), the importance of this renewable source has been recognized by the creation of the Wind Power Coordinating Committee and has also been featured as a prime subject at PES meetings.
Delving Deeper into Wind Integration
This issue of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine is the third devoted to the subject of wind power integration. The first two, in 2005 and 2007, received critical acclaim. Back by popular demand, Brian Parsons and Charlie Smith have again produced a superb collection of feature articles. In their guest editorial, Brian and Charlie review some of the technical and policy activities that are instrumental in providing future direction. They update us on the U.S. Department of Energy report on 20% wind energy by 2030, the NERC Integrating Variable Generation Task Force (IVGTF), the Production Tax Credit (PTC), the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), and carbon policy.
The seven feature articles not only update us on technical aspects but also allow us a look at how PES is changing its structure to provide direct recognition of the form of renewable energy. The articles and their lead authors, which comprise our issue, are listed in order of appearance. They are reviewed in detail in the Guest Editorial column:
- “A Whirl of Activity” by Richard Piwko, Ernst Camm, Abraham Ellis, Eduard Muljadi, Robert Zavadil, Reigh Walling, Mark O'Malley, Garth Irwin, and Steven Saylors
- “Up with Wind” by Dave Corbus, Debbie Lew, Gary Jordan, Wilhelm Winters, Frans Van Hull, John Manobianco, and Bob Zavadil
- “Change in the Air” by William Grant, Dave Edelson, John Du-mas, John Zack, Mark Ahlstrom, John Kehler, Pascal Storck, Jeff Lerner, Keith Parks, and Cathy Finley
- “Island Breezes” by Marc Matsuura
- “Where the Wind Blows” by Thomas Ackermann, Graeme Ancell, Lasse Diness Borup, Peter Børre Eriksen, Bernhard Ernst, Frank Groome, Matthias Lange, Corinna Möhrlen, Antje G. Orths, Jonathan O'Sullivan, and Miguel de la Torre
- “The View from the Top” by John Lawhorn, Dale Osborn, Jay Caspary, Bradley Nickell, Doug Larson, Warren Lasher, and Manzar Ea. Rahman
- “Wind Power Myths Debunked” by Michael Milligan, Kevin Porter, Edgar DeMeo, Paul Denholm, Hannele Holttinen, Brendan Kirby, Nicholas Miller, Andrew Mills, Mark O'Malley, Matthew Schuerger, and Lennart Soder.
A First for Wind
In an issue devoted to the integration of wind power to the electric system we offer an appropriate “History” column. Associate Editor Carl Sulzberger has done extensive research to produce a most interesting and informative column about a 1941 venture that resulted in wind power being introduced to the grid, certainly a “first” in North America and most assuredly one of the first in the world. That venture, the 1.25 MW Smith-Putnam wind turbine located in Rutland, Vermont, is accurately portrayed in his column and is accompanied by explanatory graphics.
As the Year Ends
The November/December issue is the year's last and, in accordance with IEEE policy, an index (author and subject) is compiled at the end of the issue. All material published in the magazine is also included in IEEE Xplore, as is all material dating back to 1988 from our predecessor publications, IEEE Computer Applications in Power and IEEE Power Engineering Review.
As 2009 comes to a close, I wish to offer my thanks to the P&E Editorial Board, President Wanda Reder and the PES Governing Board, and the PES Executive Office for their continuing and unwavering support. Also, I want to acknowledge my gratitude to this year's guest editors: John McDonald, Ben Kroposki, Robert Margolis, Dan Ton, Ralph Masiello, Hugh Rudnick, Brian Parsons, and Charlie Smith. To Associate Editors Gerry Sheblé and Carl Sulzberger, kudos for their contributions. And to Geri Krolin-Taylor and Janet Dudar of the IEEE Magazines staff, my gratitude for being the ultimate professionals that you both are.
| |
