The Potential Impact of Offshore Wind Energy on a Future Power System in the U.S. Northeast

Philipp Beiter, Jessica Lau, Joshua Novacheck, Gordon Stephen, Jennie Jorgenson, Walter Musial, Eric Lantz, Qing Yu

Research output: NRELTechnical Report

Abstract

This study aims to understand and quantify the potential impact of offshore wind on a future electricity system in the U.S. Northeast. In this analysis, a detailed representation of the Northeast power system is adopted, using a generation portfolio for 2024 paired with offshore wind nameplate capacities of 0 gigawatts (GW), 2 GW, and 7 GW. The analysis identifies points of offshore wind interconnection in the ISO-New England and New York Independent System Operator control areas and uses hourly wind profiles from the Wind Integration National Dataset Toolkit. Hourly simulations of the 2024 power system operations show an ability to accommodate the prescribed offshore wind capacities by adapting the system's generation dispatch. Curtailment levels of offshore wind range between 4% and 5%. Offshore wind generation displaces primarily natural-gas combined-cycle generation; however, requires increased flexibility from combined cycles through more frequent start-ups. The number of hours with transmission congestion increases because of offshore wind injection, with varying impact on a subregional level. Offshore wind's capacity credit was found to be 14.5%-28.3% and is lower than estimated in other large-scale power system studies, in part because this study considered a different weather year and a power system representation with higher shares of solar PV and onshore wind. The reliability contribution of resources is a topic area identified for more research and collaboration. The 7-GW scenario shows a reduction in locational marginal price of 11%, with production cost savings of up to 18% compared to the 0-GW scenario.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages38
StatePublished - 2020

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/TP-5000-74191

Keywords

  • energy sector modeling
  • ISO New England
  • New York ISO
  • offshore wind
  • renewable energy power systems integration
  • U.S. Northeast Power System

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