Page 360 - Fluid Power Engineering

320 Chapter Fourteen

b. Request for initial synchronization. ERCOT provides a “re-
quest to initial synchronization” checklist. After this check-
list is submitted, ERCOT then issues an approval to pro-
ceed with initial synchronization. One day ahead of syn-
chronization, the shift supervisor is informed of the startup
of test device; on the day of the startup, the project recon-
firms start up of the test unit with the shift supervisor. After
successful synchronization, any subsequent testing or op-
erations is communicated by means of resource schedule.
2. 95% availability during 250 hours of continuous operation
3. Proper functioning of startup, normal shutdown, and emer-
gency shutdown procedures
4. Proper functioning of switch gear in response to variety of
fault conditions
5. Communication of data to SCADA system

Operations
After the wind farm is commissioned and is operational, the goals
shift to:

Maximizing energy production for the remaining life of

project. This goal is achieved through maximizing availability
and yield of each turbine.
Minimizing operations and maintenance costs for the remain-

ing life of project
Managing day-to-day tasks, like providing day-ahead fore-

casts, operating the wind farm in a safe manner, protecting
assets, and being a good neighbor

The difficult challenge for any operations group is to achieve these
competing goals not on a day-to-day basis, but for the entire life of
the project.
There are three organizational models for O&M: Project owner
manages O&M, third-party manages O&M, and turbine manufac-
turer manages O&M for an extended period (10–12 years). The trend
is toward the latter two models. Third-party O&M contracts with
performance-based incentives is good model for managing a wind
farm. Incentives can take the form: Profits from availability in excess
of 97% are shared. Here the risk shifts from the project owner to a
professional O&M company. The emerging model is the offer by tur-
bine manufacturers of extended warranties of 10+plus years with a
bundled contract for operations and maintenance. Both contracts are