Flicker from distributed wind generation

From 2003 through 2008, the Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) monitored the performance of one 950 kW turbine located in Palmdale, CA, one 50 kW turbine located in Calverton, NY, and four 50 kW turbines located in Selawik, AK under actual operating conditions. Complete data are available through the UWIG website, with views of real-time and historical data and events. In this paper, we (1) inform about general flicker concerns associated with connecting large numbers of Type 1 or Type 2 turbines to a distribution system, (2) use the UWIG data to statistically characterize flicker during continuous operation and switching operation of wind turbines, (3) use the statistical information of one of the monitored wind turbine types to calculate turbine-specific flicker coefficients that can be used to predict the flicker impact of this turbine type during the planning stage of distributed generation projects, and (4) investigate the correlation of flicker and other electrical parameters.