1. The following slides provide information about integrating wind energy into the electricity grid. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 25907NREL 25907

2. In 2014, Denmark led the way with wind power supplying roughly 39% of the country’s electricity demand. Ireland, Portugal, and Spain provided more than 20% of their electricity needs from wind.* Wind energy currently contributes significant power to energy portfolios around the world. *U.S. Department of Energy. (August 2015). 2014 Wind Technologies Market Report.2014 Wind Technologies Market Report

3. Seven additional states are producing more than 12% of their energy needs with wind.* Iowa and South Dakota topped the U.S. market with more than 25% wind energy production in 2014. IA: 28.5% SD: 25.3% KS: 21.7% ID: 18.3% ND: 17.6% OK: 16.9% MN: 15.9% CO: 13.6% OR: 12.7% *U.S. Department of Energy. (August 2015). 2014 Wind Technologies Market Report.2014 Wind Technologies Market Report

4. Electric power systems in regions with high wind power contributions have operated reliably without added storage and with little or no increase in generation reserves.* Photo from Pacific Power FlickrPacific Power Flickr Grid reliability remains high with increased wind production. *American Wind Energy Association. (2014). AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2013.AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2013

5. During severe weather events, wind energy has capacity to increase system reliability. During a February 2011 cold weather spell that disabled 152 power plants in Texas (primarily coal and natural gas), wind generation produced approximately 3,500 megawatts of output, helping to avert power outages.* *Union of Concerned Scientists. (April 2013). “Renewables: Energy You Can Count On. Ramping Up Renewables.”Renewables: Energy You Can Count On. Ramping Up Renewables Photo from FlickrFlickr

6. Maximum wind integration limits have yet to be reached. For example, in May 2014, Colorado’s grid operators successfully managed an hourly contribution from wind up to 60%.* Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 31737NREL 31737 *American Wind Energy Association. (2014). AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2013 Market Report.AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2013 Market Report

7. Improvements in wind forecasting tools and wind technology help with the grid integration of wind power. In May 2014, wind energy in Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest territory met 46% of customers' electricity needs.* In March of the same year, wind energy had an instantaneous contribution of 38.4% on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system.** *North American Windpower. (May 2, 2014). “Xcel Energy Breaks Wind Power Record In Upper Midwest.”Xcel Energy Breaks Wind Power Record In Upper Midwest **American Wind Energy Association. (2014). AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2013.AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2013

8. Utility integration of wind requires minimal additional reserves from traditional fuel sources. ERCOT determined that the incremental reserve required for nearly 10 gigawatts of wind energy on its system translated into an additional monetary value of $0.50/megawatt-hour of wind, or an increase of approximately 6 cents per month on a typical Texas household’s $140 monthly electric bill.* Photo from NRG Energy, NREL 16094NREL 16094 *U.S. Department of Energy. (2015). Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States.Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States

9. Similarly, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which serves the U.S. Midwest and Manitoba, Canada, reported that more than 12 gigawatts of wind generation on its system has little to no effect on its reserve needs.* Photo from Minnesota Power, NREL 16051NREL 16051 *Navid, N. “Managing Flexibility in MISO Markets.” Electric Utility Consultants Inc. Workshop, April 2013.

10. Large amounts of wind can be integrated without major infrastructure upgrades to traditional power systems while reducing fuel consumption, resulting in fuel cost savings that outweigh increased cycling costs.* Increasing wind power production decreases fuel consumption. *National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Western Wind and Solar Integration Study Phase 2.Western Wind and Solar Integration Study Phase 2 Cycling refers to traditional power systems: shutting down, restarting, ramping up/down, and operating at part load. Wind Integration (Cycling) from a System Perspective

11. Decreasing fuel consumption results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Billions of pounds of carbon dioxide are prevented from entering our atmosphere when we replace traditional fuel-powered energy systems with wind – another benefit of integrating wind into the national energy portfolio.* *National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Western Wind and Solar Integration Study Phase 2.Western Wind and Solar Integration Study Phase 2 The increase in plant emissions from cycling to accommodate variable renewables is more than offset by the overall reduction in CO₂, NOₓ, and SO₂.

12. For more details about wind energy integration, visit the WINDExchange website or the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Transmission Grid Integration pages.WINDExchange websiteTransmission Grid Integration pages Photo by First Wind, NREL 16737NREL 16737