We continue to work with National Grid on the agreement fo interconnect with their distribution system. Some changes were required to the agreement due to the new RI legislation for "virtual net metering". The large 2000 kVA step-up transforner was installed. (This steps up the voltage from the wind turbine's 690 volts to the higher 13.8 kV of the distribution system.)

Work at the AAER plant continues to assemble Portsmouth's generator.

The Town has registered with NEPOOL GIS (the New England Power Generators, Generation Information System) and is nearly complete with its application for permitting with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Due to concern for damage to the Town water tank near the Wind Turbine Generator site, the Water Board requested a study be done to assess the potential for damage to the water tank in the event of turbine failure. The Wind Blade Impact Analysis Report along with amplifying remarks from the WTG manufacturer (AAER) is at the link below. In summary, the Impact Analysis and the manufacturer’s amplifying remarks indicates that the probability of blade impact with the top corner of the tank is extremely remote (less than a thousandth of a percent) considering both the probability of WTG failure (by any mode) and the probability of blade failure that would cause ejection of a blade toward the turbine with impact on the most vulnerable tank top corner. Even in the remote event that this impact were to occur, the damage to the tank would not result in any major damage to the tank or appreciable water loss.

The current schedule has erection the last week of December 2008, manufacturer testing the week of Janaury 5, generating power to the grid by January 9 and turnover to the Town the week of January 12, 2009.

See the Wind Turbine Blade Impact Report (547 KB PDF)

Sorry,no new pictures this week.


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