Studies and Reports > 2009 MN Biennial Report > SE Planning Zone > Needs: 6.7.7 Rochester – Adams 161 kV Line

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6.7.7 Rochester – Adams 161 kV Line

Tracking Number. 2007-SE-N1

Utility. Dairyland Power Cooperative

Inadequacy. The loading of the Rochester-Adams 161 kV transmission line manifested itself as a new transmission inadequacy in 2007. This line tends to load heavily under certain conditions such as high south to north transfers. The line loading is exacerbated by the noticeable increase of wind generation around and south of the Adams substation. Real time monitoring of Rochester-Adams 161 kV indicates that this line will overload under high south to north transfers for an outage of either the Byron-Pleasant Valley 345 kV line or the Byron 345/161 kV transformer. Several interconnection studies for wind farm integration around the Adams area have shown that the Adams-Rochester line is an injection constraint.

A map of the Rochester-Adams 161 kV line is shown on the following two page.

Alternatives. No alternatives to reconductoring the line are possible.

Analysis. This deficiency has a detrimental impact on new wind generation connection to the system and requesting firm transmission service around the Adams substation. An increased rating on this line is required for several wind farms to connect to the system and generate at full output.

Schedule. Dairyland Power Cooperative will reconductor the line with 795 ACSS conductor and raise some of the 161 kV structures for an increased line rating to 380 MVA. The estimated completion date is December 31, 2009.

Click here or on map below to download high resolution PDF map.