IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - November/December 2015 - 4

from the editor

Mel Olken

variable generation
the transmission of wind and solar

As most of our regulAr
readers know, we have been presenting biennial issues devoted to wind
and solar energy, with Ben Kroposki
looking at solar and Charlie smith
doing likewise for wind. But this year
marks a change in our approach by
having Ben's issue (the march/April
2015 issue) looking at the interrelation between solar and wind generation with the distribution system, and
Charlie, in this issue, offers the interrelation
of solar and wind generation with the transmission system.

In This Issue
In his "guest editorial," prepared with
Charlton Clark of the u.s. Department
of energy (Doe) and Barbara o'Neill of
Nrel, Charlie reviews the financial aspects of wind and solar energy as well as
their trends and looks at the new technologies developed for these installations that
mirror what we associate with "conventional" generation. Indeed, it is a given that
the power system of the future will contain
a substantial percentage of variable generation (Vg) that will have to have the capabilities to totally replace the "conventional"
generation that we know of today.
the seven feature articles that comprise this issue are introduced in the
"guest editorial" column and offer an
overview of the design of future Vg installations, details of their capabilities,
and a look at some of the technologies
that are available and that need be developed to evolve the grid of the future.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2015.2464473
Date of publication: 20 October 2015

ieee power & energy magazine

of many parameters associated with
wind energy, all of which are moving
in a positive direction, as detailed in
the most recent Doe "Wind Vision"
report. He also discusses the dramatic trends taking place in the areas
of grid integration, confirming the
information presented in a number
of the articles in the issue. rob also
discusses the ongoing regional transimage licensed by graphic stock
mission system upgrades and makes
We will also look at the rapid growth the case for continued efforts in this area.
of Vg in China as well as the status of
Vg in europe.
A Heartfelt Thank You
As this will be the final issue of 2015, I
would like to convey my sincere thanks
Railway Technology
our "History" column offers a detailed to the supporting cast of our publicaview of an area not often explored in tion, without whom the success we enjoy
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, or would not be possible. first and foremost
by the Ieee Power & energy society is the IEEE Power & Energy Magazine
itself, that of railway technology. We editorial Board, whose advice and counare fortunate to offer a column au- sel continue to produce timely themes
thored by John sprague, the grandson for our issues. those themes are folof the renowned frank sprague and lowed by the leadership of expert guest
the former Ceo of sprague electric editors whose intimate knowledge of the
Company. the column was edited by selected subject is critical to the selection
Associate editor Carl sulzberger. this of articles and authors. the quality of the
article reviews the development and presentations is indeed a recognition of
application of yet another renowned the quality of the producing authors, to
frank sprague invention, multiple unit whom I offer kudos. our "History" coltrain control. the column and the in- umn, a feature many look to read first,
troduction by Carl sulzberger provide is a tribute to the efforts of a friend and
a most interesting insight into a niche professional, Carl sulzberger, to whom I
am eternally grateful. And to the Ieee
area of our technology.
magazine staff led by senior managing
editor geri Krolin-taylor and senior
The View on Wind
rob gramlich, senior vice president at the Art Director Janet Dudar, I offer a most
American Wind energy Association, has sincere thank you for your continuing
authored the issue's "In my View" col- guidance and patience with a sometimes
p&e
umn. In this piece, he reviews the trends recalcitrant editor-in-chief.
november/december 2015

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