The Connection Studies for 1200 MW Wind Power Integration in Portugal

Abstract

During the last years Portugal has been facing a massive increase of renewable energy power plants in the Electric Power system, mainly driven by the wind power connected. The wind power represents for the country a key opportunity to invest in one energy source that is naturally available and at the same time represents a reduction on the dependency of foreign energy imports and carbon dioxide emissions. In the year 2005, the Portuguese government released one Public Tender process for the installation, in a first phase, of 1200MW of wind energy. Within the Tender requirements was included one Annex with the minimum Electrical capabilities to be provided by the Wind Turbines/ Wind Farms[2]. Some of the requirements were starting to appear in the most advanced grid codes in Europe (as Germany and Spain), such as:  the Fault Ride Through capability (with reactive current injection)