National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Renewable Energy Resources
Connection aspects, related studies and international
code amendment practice
Eng. Khaled .H. Al-Walidi
Electric Interconnection Expert
National Electric Power Co. (NEPCO)
Eng. Issa .I. Sleehat
Transmission Planning Engineer/ System Planning dep.
National Electric Power Co. (NEPCO)
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTRUDUCTION


As the energy industry moves forward, the use and
research into renewable energy resources (RERs)
have expanded significantly. Whether it is wind,
biomass, or solar, the industry is seeking ways to
connect, breakthrough and integrate the newest
technologies into their power systems.
As the fuel price and environmental concerns
grow, these generation technologies have proven
to be an efficient and fiscally sound alternatives
for the energy industry.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTRUDUCTION
connection of (RERs G) capacity can have a serious
effect on the system reliability and power quality.
This is caused by the complicated control problem
that is introduced onto the system due to a twosource, one-load situation. Moreover, reliability and
faults from other parts of the grid, far from the
RERs G site can result to operating problems for
the RERs G unit. .
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Master Strategy of Energy Sector in Jordan
In renewable energy domain
Energy sector strategy has provided for reaching a contribution
percentage for renewable energy in total energy mix of about 7%
by the year 2015 and 10% by the year 2020 .

Wind:
500 MW up to year 2015.
1200 MW up to year 2020.


Solar:
Bio :
NEPCO
600 MW up to year 2020.
(20-50) MW up to year 2020.
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Planned Wind Power Generation Capacity
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Master Strategy of Energy Sector in Jordan
In renewable energy domain
Projects under implementation
• wind project in Kamsha (30-40) MW (negotiation).
• wind project in Fujaij (grant submitted by GEF) – 70-100 MW
(bidding)
• 1 MW solar project (Spanish grant).
• Maan solar project – 100 MW (feasibility study phase)
• Haraneh solar project – 20 MW (BOO) (under evaluation)
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Master Strategy of Energy Sector in Jordan
In renewable energy domain
 Complete the studies necessary for the thermal solar energy
projects (300-600) MW.
 Expand in the use of the solar cells systems to lighting remote
areas and in domestic, industrial and commercial uses and
electricity generation.
 Carry out electricity generation project from the municipal
wastes in coordination with GAM and concerned bodies.
 Focus search and study on the biogas fuel (Brazilian
experience) to be used in covering industrial needs and
transport sector.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Master Strategy of Energy Sector in Jordan
In renewable energy domain
 Create a fund to aid renewable energy projects (and energy
rationalization) so that resources of the fund are through:
 Treasury allocations.
 Environment fund (CDM).
 Amounts from Jordan country project fund and within available
potential.
 External aids from donors (French agency, German construction
bank, Japanese agency…etc).
 GEF through World Bank.
 Any other sources that can be proposed.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERCONNECTION ASPECTS
The connection of these generation capacities on the
national networks (Distribution & transmission) has
gained significant attention in the past few years as
energy industries is seeking for feasible ,effective
solutions and public relations regulation acts that
define the rights and responsibilities of all parties .
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERCONNECTION ASPECTS
Standard interconnection rules needed for:Encourage the application by reducing uncertainty.
establish clear and uniform processes and
requirements for connecting to the electric utility grid
ensure that the project interconnection meets the
safety and reliability needs of both the energy enduser and the utility.
ensure that the costs of interconnection are the same
throughout the country.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERCONNECTION ASPECTS
Standard interconnection rules
address the application process and the technical
requirements for interconnecting RERs projects of a
specified type and size with the electric grid .
Include some or all parts of the interconnection process,
starting from when a potential customer considers
submitting an application up to the time when the
interconnection agreement is finalized.
NEPCO
Applicant submits completed application form
NO
YES
Request complete
Request complete
NO
YES
RERs G unit < 2 MW?
Study Process
NO
YES
Apply the screens for “Fast
Track”
NO
Project passes the fast track
screens
YES
Customer agrees
to pay for any
needed upgrades?
NO
YES
Sign interconnection agreement
YES
Construction, commissioning
testing; operation
and
Withdraw
interconnection
request
RER G < 2 MW, meets key codes
and standards, meets certification of
small generation equipment package
NO
NO
NO
YES
Addition of RER G shall not allow
generation on circuit to exceed 15%
of the line section annual peak load
NO
NO
NO
YES
RER G project, along with other
generation on circuit, shall not
contribute more than 10% to the
maximum fault current
Fast Track
Screening
Process
NO
NO
NO
YES
Addition of the DG project shall not
cause any protective devices to
exceed 87.5% of the short circuit
interrupting Capability
YES
NO
Sign interconnection agreement
Go to Study
Process
YES
Construction, commissioning and
testing; operation
NO
TSP/DSP
Customer
Meeting
National Electric
Power
Company , Jordan STUDY PROCESS
Minimum engineering review
Study required
System upgrade required
System
impact study
No study
required
Facilities study
upgrade
substantial?
Yes
Project not
feasible
No
Upgrade contract
Project rejected
No system
upgrade required
Upgrade system
Project approved
Execute Interconnection Agreement
Install system, certificate of completion, inspection,
commissioning test
Parallel operation
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Tech. Concerns with Integrating Renewables
Penetration
Affected by utilities' existing generation mix regulating
capabilities, load characteristics, resource availability, and
correlations between system load and resources.
Additional systems costs imposed by variability and
uncertainty may go up with increasing penetration.
Costs are moderate – up to 20-30% Penetration – and
depend on balancing authority and market structure
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Tech. Concerns with Integrating Renewables
Infrastructure Capacity
Lack of transmission capacity from stranded renewable
resources locations.
 Variable and uncertain generation
Solved by
 Spatial diversity of the resource.
 Flexible conventional generation.
 Grid operations and control areas.
 Limited curtailment for extreme events
 And at high penetrations possibly storage
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
Lack of transmission capacity
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERC. Standards and Certification Criteria
IEEE 1547 Series
Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric
Power Systems (including use of IEEE 1547.1 testing protocols
to establish conformity) .
IEEE1547.1
Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment
Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power
Systems.
IEEE P1547.2
Draft Application Guide for IEEE 1547 Standard for
Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power
Systems.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERC. Standards and Certification Criteria
IEEE 1547.3
Guide For Monitoring, Information Exchange, and Control of
Distributed Resources Interconnected with Electric Power
Systems.
IEEE 1547.4
Draft Guide for Design, Operation, and Integration of Distributed
Resource Island Systems with Electric Power Systems.
IEEE 1547.5
Draft Technical Guidelines for Interconnection of Electric Power
Sources Greater than 10MVA to the Power Transmission Grid
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
INTERC. Standards and Certification Criteria
IEEE1547.6
Draft Recommended Practice For Interconnecting Distributed
Resources With Electric Power Systems Distribution Secondary
Networks
National Electrical Codes
UL 1741
for equipment certification such as Inverters, Converters, and
Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
GRID CODES
Grid Codes are designed to cover all technical aspects relating
to the connection, operation and use of the transmission system.
but the existing grid code requirements may be impossible or
irrelevant with respect to the physical aspects and technical
capabilities of these generation plants .
Many countries are now expending substantial efforts and
resources to update their grid codes (in addition to the standard
periodic review and revision process) to incorporate realistic
and practical (both technically and economically) provisions for
RER generation
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
GRID CODES
Current versions of grid codes and connection requirement
documents contain detailed specifications on aspects including,
but not limited to, the following: Operational control (start-up, shut-down, power ramp rates)
 Power cap & constraints/curtailment
 Voltage and frequency operating ranges
 Frequency regulation
 Reserve
 Reactive power capability and voltage control
 Fault ride through
 Protection
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations for reducing the obstacles for RERs
generators embedded in the interconnection process fall into two
categories:Modifications to interconnection policies and procedures,
which would reduce frustrations experienced by generators
awaiting interconnection; and
Modifications to transmission planning processes, which
would make critical interconnection information available to
potential generators ahead of time, enabling preliminary analysis
to be completed prior to beginning the interconnection process.
NEPCO
National Electric Power Company , Jordan
NEPCO