End-to-end electrical solutions for the biggest challenges

involved with connecting wind energy to the grid

Solutions for Wind Energy Integration

There are lots of challenges involved in S&C’s Approach
harnessing the wind to generate electricity. As We’ll develop an approach addressing your specific
regulations and requirements for wind energy business needs. We can provide services for areas
plants continue to evolve, new hurdles are being outside your organization’s expertise. Or we can
imposed for connecting them to the grid and provide comprehensive solutions spanning the entire
maintaining full production. And wind energy range of project activities: planning and studies,
plant projects can be delayed by inappropriate engineering, equipment procurement, installation,
equipment selection or incorrect installation, commissioning, and life-cycle management . . . plus
limiting revenue and potentially incurring the products needed for the application.
financial penalties as well.
S&C Electric Company can help. We offer
comprehensive, field-proven solutions for
integrating wind energy
FIELD-PROVEN plants into the grid in a
SOLUTIONS predictable, streamlined
ADDRESS THE MOST manner, and can address HELP MANAGE YOUR
COMPLEX ISSUES even the most complex ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
issues.
ASSETS . . . PROTECT YOUR
S&C will partner with you from the inception INVESTMENT
of your project. We can
provide planning and PLANNING AND
procurement services ENGINEER,
PROCUREMENT
that ensure timely SERVICES . . .
CONSTRUCT,
project completion. If AND
desired, we can engineer, COMMISSION
construct, and commission an entire reactive
power control solution, collector system, or
interconnection substation. And we can help
manage your electrical system assets to protect
your investment and maximize plant returns.
S&C Services by Project Stage
S&C is well suited to deliver total solutions
for your wind energy plant. Through our Determine Engineer Operate
100 years of experience in the design and Needs and and Construct and
Select Design Maintain
manufacture of high-voltage electrical
equipment, S&C has developed a deep
expertise in electric power systems. We deliver Consulting
high-quality products and services that stand
the test of time. Our utility-grade products are
Analytical Studies
designed to provide long service life in the most
challenging environments and are manufactured
to exacting quality standards. Our medium- Design Engineering
voltage switchgear and power electronics
systems provide reliable service in thousands Procurement
of applications around the world. And S&C
continues to develop innovative new solutions, Install, Test,
such as energy storage integration systems, that and Commission
are improving the predictability and reliability of
renewable energy production. Construction Management
S&C’s operations world-wide are certified
to ISO 9001. We’re committed to enhancing Project Management
the utilization of renewable energy resources
and reducing the environmental impact of our
Seminars and Training
business activities. S&C is a registered Green
Suppliers Network Partner and our Chicago
Headquarters manufacturing operation is Asset
Management
certified to ISO 14001.

2
VAR Compensation Systems PureWave DSTATCOM features a modular design
The intermittent nature of the wind can create volt- for heightened reliability and availability. Each
age stability problems on the transmission system to 1.25-MVAR inverter has its own independent controls
which a wind energy plant is connected. To prevent and circuit breakers . . . and a single 1.25-MVAR
such occurrences, utilities and regulators have created system can even be applied independently for small
increasingly strict grid interconnection requirements wind systems of 3.5 MW or less. Unlike the water-
that renewable energy plants must meet . . . or risk cooled inverters used in other systems, PureWave
production curtailment. DSTATCOM features an air-cooled design that
reduces maintenance requirements. And there’s no
S&C’s VAR compensation systems can help need to curtail production of the entire plant when
your wind energy plant conform to local grid maintenance is needed . . . only the generation
interconnection requirements. Our team of engineers connected to the affected inverter section is impacted.
closely follows changing interconnection requirements PureWave DSTATCOM is fully tested at the factory,
around the world and can provide expert counsel. for quick installation and commissioning.
First, we’ll perform analytical studies to determine In instances where the solution includes a
the remedial actions needed for your plant. Based mechanically switched capacitor bank, S&C’s
on the results of the studies, we’ll propose the most Series 2000 Circuit-Switcher offers proven switching
cost-effective solution for meeting the interconnection and protection performance. It’s been applied at
requirements. It may include mechanically switched thousands of substations around the world. Series
capacitor and reactor banks, a rapidly responding 2000 Circuit-Switcher’s simple, straightforward design
static compensator, or a combination of both. means fewer parts—and lower initial and operating
After the proposal has been accepted, S&C can costs. It’s fully assembled and tested at the factory
manage all aspects of its implementation, including: prior to shipment, dramatically reducing installation
• Project management time and cost, and ensuring proper performance
over the long term.
• Electrical and physical design
• Equipment specification and procurement
• Construction management, and
• Installation, testing, and commissioning.
With S&C’s expertise in the technologies
used for dynamic VAR compensation, you’re
assured that S&C will anticipate potential
problems, address them upfront, and deliver
a solution on time and properly installed.
We also offer comprehensive maintenance
services that ensure the system stays in
top operating condition . . . and that you
stay in compliance with grid connection
requirements.
Our VAR compensation systems
include proven products such as the
S&C PureWave DSTATCOM® Distributed
Static Compensator. This fast-compensating
reactive power source has been applied
at wind energy plants around the world
to reduce voltage variations and allow the
plants to meet power factor, voltage output,
and low-voltage ride-through requirements
of grid codes. PureWave DSTATCOM’s modular design speeds installation and reduces
plant downtime when system maintenance is needed.

3
Collector System Vista Switchgear is available in a wide range of
The collector system of your wind plant delivers wind models that allow application throughout the wind
energy from the turbines to the collector substation, plant collector system. Compact Wind Turbine Style
and on to the transmission grid. It’s a complex system fits in the base of the tower and provides switching
that has design requirements distinctly different and protection for the turbine. Pad-Mounted Style can
from typical medium-voltage distribution systems. It be customized according to the number of switched
needs to perform reliably. And it must be completed or protected incoming sources and outgoing loads.
on schedule to realize the full return from your It’s installed in the collector system to meet local
wind plant. You need an expert who understands its inspection requirements for isolation of segments
technical challenges, and a proven track record of during maintenance.
delivering solutions that meet the requirements . . .
on time.
S&C draws on our considerable experience
in designing electric distribution networks to
provide services that ensure the successful design,
construction, and commissioning of your collector
system. We’ve delivered collector systems for small
and large wind energy plants. Our service offerings
can be combined into a complete engineer-procure-
construct (EPC) package, which includes:
• Conceptual layouts
• Analytical studies
• Review of local codes and requirements for
switching and protection
• Design engineering, including physical, protection
and control, and civil engineering
• Procurement of all equipment
• Construction management, including contractor
selection, and
• Project management.
We only select equipment that has a demonstrated
record of superior field performance.
S&C Vista® Underground Distribution
Switchgear and S&C System VI™ Switchgear
reliably control power flow from your turbines to
the collector substation. They connect gigawatts of
wind energy to the grid, worldwide. Both feature a
compact, sealed design that protects against animal
intrusion and provides superior performance in even
the most challenging environments. And both feature
switches with a clearly visible open gap and integral
grounding capability—for a higher level of safety for
your operating personnel. Vista Switchgear offers
arc-resistant construction too, adding another
layer of safety for your personnel.

S&C Wind Turbine Style Vista

fits in the base of the tower.

4
Interconnection Substation By selecting S&C to provide your interconnection
The interconnection substation delivers wind energy substation on a turnkey basis, you can dedicate
collected from your plant to the grid. It needs to more time to other critical tasks needed to complete
perform its function reliably, right from the start. your wind energy plant. Your total investment cost
is reduced as well, as S&C’s experienced team will
S&C can provide a complete turnkey streamline the design and approval processes and
interconnection substation up to—and including—the effectively manage construction and commissioning.
final transmission line segment that connects your
plant to the grid. We can provide services including: S&C’s industry-leading medium-voltage switchgear
can also be applied at your interconnection
• Analytical studies; engineering design; and
substation. System VI Switchgear combines the
installation documentation, including drawings,
features of Vista Switchgear with customer-specified
specifications, and bills of material
control devices, such as meters and special relays,
• Procurement of major equipment, such as to connect wind plants between 5 MW and 70 MW
transformers and cables to the grid. It provides a compact, reliable, and
• Construction management, including site affordable solution for this application. Every lineup
preparation, erection of steel structures, and is customized to meet the specific requirements.
equipment installation, utilizing S&C-supervised
subcontractors
• Acceptance and in-service testing of all equipment,
and
• Commissioning, including all steps necessary to
transfer the equipment to you, such as appropriate
documentation, final test reports, and project
as-built drawings.

System VI Switchgear provides a cost-effective solution for connecting wind energy plants between 5 MW and 70 MW to the grid.

5
Energy Storage Systems
The intermittent nature of the wind means that
wind-generated power may not be available when
it’s needed. An energy storage system can help you
maximize the return from your plant by storing the
power, so that you can sell it when demand is high. It
sounds simple, but isn’t. The technology is relatively
new and continues to evolve rapidly. There are only a
few proven systems. You need an experienced hand to
help you navigate the complexities of this field.
S&C is uniquely qualified to provide large-scale
energy storage system solutions. We have more
experience than anyone else in the industry. We’ve
deployed over 90% of sodium-sulfur battery systems in
the U.S. alone.
We’ve drawn on this experience to develop the
S&C Smart Grid SMS™ Storage Management System,
a field-hardened solution for connecting stored energy
to the grid. This automatic power controller utilizes
distributed intelligence and proven power electronics
to provide rapid response to changing system
conditions. It converts AC power to DC to charge the
The Smart Grid SMS is a leading solution for integrating sodium-sulfur batteries to the grid.
6
battery system, and controls discharge of the battery
system into the grid. The system is available in
pre-engineered 2.5- or 5-MVA ISO containers, designed
to be connected to 2- or 4-MW batteries, respectively.
Larger systems can be furnished by paralleling
containers.
The Smart Grid SMS can additionally be operated
as a VAR supply and can be controlled as a full
four-quadrant device, similar to S&C’s PureWave
DSTATCOM Distributed Static Compensator. It
smoothes the effects of intermittent wind generation,
and allows greater penetration of wind energy on
the grid.
S&C’s offers comprehensive services that ensure
successful deployment of your energy storage system.
We can provide up-front studies and recommendations
to help you select the right system, and then tailor a
Smart Grid SMS meeting your specific requirements.
S&C can also manage engineering, procurement, and
construction of your energy storage project, including
battery procurement and installation. And we can
maintain the system after project completion too.
 Printed in U.S.A.

Descriptive Bulletin 2000-42

May 23, 2011©
Offices Worldwide  f www.sandc.com