Interconnection protection of IPP generators at commercial/industrial facilities

Much of the new generation capacity installed during the next millennium will be accomplished through the construction of independent power producer (IPP) generating facilities. These facilities can take the form of small dispersed generating units, or large-capacity plants owned and even operated by nonutility personnel. It is forecasted that many of these dispersed generating units will be at smaller industrial and commercial facilities and operating in parallel with the utility system to reduce energy cost through load sharing or "peak shaving." This paper discusses the protection requirements to interconnect these generators to utility systems, as well as methods to reconnect these generators after interconnect protection tripping.