What makes the large scale integration of wind to the electricity grid so challenging?
The basic nature of an electricity system is that supply and demand must be in perfect balance at all times. Wind power can increase and decrease rapidly. Wind patterns can also frequently run counter to the demand for electricity. When wind suddenly ramps up or down, conventional generation such as coal, gas or hydro-electricity must be immediately dispatched or power exchanged with other provinces to offset the imbalance. How much wind is connected to the grid in Alberta? According to the AESO, Alberta currently has 497 MW connected to the grid. There is also about 5,500 MW of wind generation in the queue. Now that the threshold is removed, what are the next steps to getting more wind power on the grid? The AESO conducted extensive consulation with CanWEA, wind developers and market participants to identify the requirements of adding more wind power to the grid. With general acceptance of the Market and Operational Framework for Wind Integration in Alberta (published March 2007) that
