Utility scale PV to grid tie-in 1

[BigInch]

I've searched quite a lot for this already, but can't come up with any specific info. Can anybody point me to the right URL directions to get some idea of what facilities and budget would be needed to tie in a 10-20 MW photovoltaic generation station into a 400 kVa Grid (Spain), assuming just overhead lines are somewhere in the vicinity. A typical(?) €/km cost for extending the 400 line to a PV site would also be appreciated.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[davidbeach]

400 kVA or 400 kV?

 

[itsmoked]

Hey BigInch.

kVA is a power similar to MW. And of course 10MW >>> 400kVA.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[BigInch]

Sorry. Its volts. 400 kV red lines on this map,

http://www.ree.es/ingles/i-index_de.html

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[davidbeach]

That's kinda what I figured. 10-20 MW seems way too small to even be thinking about 400kV; something in the 35-135 kV level would be far more appropriate. A 20 MVA station at 400 kV would be a significant fraction of the total project cost. Finding an existing line at a lower voltage could significantly reduce your costs.

 

[BigInch]

I'm trying to confirm this, but as I make out the requirements now, tie-ins are only allowed into the 220 and 400 kV grids.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[slavag]

Hi BigInch.
David are right.
20MW connection to the 220 or 400kV it's very, very expensive.
Regards.
Slava

 

[Marmite]

I can't believe that the Spanish power utility would insist on a 220kV or 400kV connection for such a small power plant. Spain gets around 8% of its power from renewables and is the third largest country in Europe in terms of wind power penetration. It just doesn't stack up for them all to be connected to the grid system at 220kV and above. The economics just wouldn't work. I have no experience of the structure of the power industry in Spain, but it may be that REE is the transmission system owner/operator and is therefore only able to offer transmission connections. You might need to approach the distribution network operator for the geographic area where the plant is located and talk to them about a more sensible connection point/voltage which would be within the range specified by davidbeach. In the UK the likely voltage for this size of connection would be 33kV.
Regards
Marmite

 

[BigInch]

Hummm, I'm beginning to think "somebody" I spoke to last week wasn't exactly telling me the whole truth. I think I've found a couple of small (500-1000 kW) systems that are supposedly grid connected, but are not near the hi kV routes, althoug its hard to verify that they are actually connected to the grid. I would appreciate any solid evidence concerning any PV system connected to the Spanish grid at < 220 kV.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[BigInch]

I believe I have found the answer and it appears to be as Marmite (*) describes; connections at lower voltages are permitted, which is outside the limit of operation of R.E.E. and as such to be found within the strangle holds of the local distributors.

As for the guy I talked to last week I have only one thing to say, "Lier! lier! Pants on fire!"

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[BigInch]

BTW, a mile of underground 20 kV LA-280 duplex seems to run about a cool million € ($ 1.5MM) with nothing in the way and a substation siting around just waiting for the tie-in.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com