Christmas Lunch of the research team. In order to promote the spirit of group and celebrate success level reached, on 11st December 2009, the members of the power system research group celebrate a Christmas lunch. This meeting was a prefect occasion to enhance the relationship between team members including their partners. A Italian restaurant was an adequate environment to share comments, experiences, and some jokes. Christmas crackers, excellent food and good conversation theme were the main ingredients of a good lunch.

Research Team Workshop, 9th December 2009. A meeting of Power system research group was done in Ferranti Building, the University of Manchester, on 9th December of 2009. The aim of this meeting was provide a environment to share knowledge, experiences, challenges, etc. This meeting will be delivered each three month in order to provide a synergy in the information flow and knowledge transfer.

Summary of previous experiences in research. On 7th December 2009, Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt presented a summary of his previous experiences as researcher. He lectured during a meeting with research group on power system in the University of Manchester. This occasion was useful to the establishment of future collaborations between member of research group and Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt. Modelling and simulation of new form of generation and development of power system analysis software were identified as mutual interest areas. Over 14 years of experience in teaching and researching will be important in new research areas inside the power system research team. Interesting questions and comments were provided by the audience, Prof Vladimir Terzija was emphatic in the new challenges over research in coming future. The presentation used by Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt is available to download. [Download Presentation] (2.65MB)

Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt become in the Vice-president of the Venezuelan Wind Energy Association. On 15th October of 2009 was the starting point of the Venezuelan Wind Energy Association (AVEOL). Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt was elected as Vice-president and international represent on Latin American Wind Energy Association (LAWEA).

Dr Francisco Gonzalez-Longatt is upgraded to IEEE Senior Member. The Senior Member grade is the highest level of IEEE membership for which application may be made and requires experience reflecting professional maturity. The requirements for Senior Member include 10 years of professional experience, educational experience with five years of significant performance. This distinction to Dr Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt provide a professional recognition for his technical and professional excellence.

Projects on Wind Power and Renewable. Four important projects in wind power and alterative energy resources was presented on 12th October of 2009. Recent travel of Prof Francisco M. Gonzalez-Longatt was a perfect opportunity to present the results of the most recent undergraduate projects.

Second evaluation of the wind energy resource on Venezuela. An great research has been developed by Ms Annamaria Jordan and Mr. Edward Machado. In this evaluation the real data from weather station on Venezuela has been the starting point, the researcher developed an Matlab program to use spatial interpolation and provide a first scientific wind energy map in Venezuela.

Evaluation of Alternative Energy Resources in Venezuela. Ms Ana Rangel presented important results of her research. She has explore the use of alternative energy resources in Venezuela: photovoltaic, wind power, micro turbine, fuel cell, wave energy etc. Economical and technical evaluation has demonstrated a great potential in most important regions of Venezuela to use photovoltaic and wind power in island application. Commercial and industrial use of alternative energy resources is an economical problem. Electricity in Venezuela is produced mainly from Hydraulic resources as consequence cheap production cost make impossible deployment of alternative energy resources. A government political of CO2 reduction can promote the use of this new form of generation in the next 10 or 15 years.

Evaluation of the steady state behaviour of Venezuelan Electrical Power System considering the Paraguana Wind farm. An important evaluation of wind power integration in the Venezuelan power system has been made by Mr Carlos Mendez. Los Taques wind farm at Paraguana Area will be the first 100MW of wind power integrate in the Venezuelan network. A careful study  of the steady state behaviour of the power network has been developed using a program developed in Matlab. This program consider the real model of the wind turbines in the new wind farm. Two different configuration of 76 and 50 wind turbines was evaluated. The use of constant speed wind turbine has demonstrated special problem in voltage profile during low wind speed. A future evaluation of the dynamic reactive power compensation is the next stage of this project.

A prototype of small wind turbine for island application, EOLO2 design has been presented. Mr Alejandro Carantona presented the first stage of the EOLO project, the design of small wind turbine to island application. The design is based on a variable speed wind turbine driven a permanent magnet synchronous generator. This generator to fed a DC link with storage system (batteries) and finally an inverter is used to fed AC load. The next stage is develop a real prototype to be installed in UNEFA.

Opening of the new National Grid Power System Research Centre in Ferranti Building. The new National Grid Power System Research Centre of the University of Manchester was opened in Ferrranti building on 18 September of 2009. This was a very important event in the University of Manchester and United Kingdom. Senior management of University and NG attended to the opening ceremony. Prof. Colin Bailey - Dean of Faculty of E&PS and Mr. Mr. Chris Murray - Director - UK Transmission pronounce the inauguration speeches for the two new laboratories: new dielectric materials lab and protection and control lab. 

Meeting about WAMPAC project on UNIMAN. On Wednesday 9th of September 2009 the WAMPAC research group had a meeting with Dr. Mark Osborne an important National Grid member working in this important area. The occasion was useful to show all research activities and projects. Prof. Vladimir Terzija lectured about the National Grid Power Systems Research Centre at The University of Manchester with special emphasis in Laboratory WAMPAC Project and top of the line research about Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU)

Visit of Prof Chen-Ching Liu. Last Friday, June 19, 2009 the Professor Chen-Ching Liu arrived to the University of Manchester, to give a seminar about "Wide-Area Defence against Cascading Events in a Power Grid". Professor Liu is the Deputy Principal of College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, at University College Dublin, Ireland. Professor Vladimir Terzija as EPSRC Chair Professor in Power System Engineering invited to this Seminar. The Group of Electrical Energy and Power Systems and important professors was there: Prof. Peter Crossley, Prof. Daniel Krishen, Dr. Joseph Mutale.

Professor Francisco M. González-Longatt arrived to the University of Manchester. He is currently enjoying a well deserved sabbatical leave fro the Universidad Nacional Experimental Politenica de la Fuerza Armada Nacional, UNEFA. It is a great opportunity of development. He is working as associate research in The University of Manchester in the ADDRESS Project.  This is an European project, acronym of “Active Distribution networks with full integration of Demand and distributed energy RESourceS”, it aims to deliver a comprehensive commercial and technical framework for the development of “Active Demand” in the smart grids of the future, or in other words for the active participation of domestic and small commercial customers in the power system markets and in the provision of services to the different power system participants. The project consortium consists of 25 partners from 11 European countries spanning the entire electricity supply chain, qualified R&D bodies, SMEs and manufacturers.

INSTALLED THE WEATHER STATION CALLED "GUARDIAN OF HEAVEN." As part of the project EOLO2 currently in development by the Group for Advanced Research in Energy and Professor Francisco M. González-Longatt, in recounts days was erected climate station called "Guardian of Heaven". This station will help to quantify the wind resource available at Mariara, Venezuela.
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The National Wind Power Generation Plan was presented to VENEZUELAN authorities. Recent reports indicate that Corpoelec (Corporación Eléctrica Nacional) plans to carry out the construction of wind farms in several states of Venezuela, highlighting the Chacopata one, in the Sucre state. This farm will have an installed capacity of approximately 24 MW, investing around $60 million. The project emerges as a result of an agreement between Pdvsa and Galp Energy, with the participation of Venezuela and Portugal. 
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Venezuela Gets First 100-MW Wind Project. Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica  has reached an agreement with Venezuelan energy group Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) for the supply of 76 AE61-1320 kilowatt wind turbine generators, amounting to a total power of 100 megawatts (MW).