Avista Corporation

Wind farm substation layout

Avista faced a critical challenge in completing a wind farm substation layout for a generator interconnection project with a firm in-service deadline. To meet this goal, they partnered with Commonwealth, leveraging their expertise in physical substation design and interconnection solutions for renewable energy projects.

Commonwealth led the scoping and design process, delivering an efficient substation interconnection layout tailored to Avista's operational needs. The substation was designed as a three-position ring bus, with scalability to expand into a six-position breaker-and-a-half configuration. This flexible design met the immediate wind farm interconnection requirements while providing room for future growth. Serving as the Point of Interconnection (POI) for the wind farm, the substation connected to a 115 kV radial transmission line, ensuring reliable energy transmission.

The physical substation design included a two-bay layout with three circuit breakers and associated switches. The scalable design allowed for up to six-line positions within a three-bay breaker-and-a-half configuration, balancing current project demands with future expansion options. Commonwealth’s engineering team provided comprehensive services, including civil/structural, physical, protection, and integration design, ensuring all technical and operational requirements were met.

In addition to the primary substation layout, Commonwealth designed a panel house to support current and future transmission lines. This infrastructure was sized to adapt as the network evolves, ensuring long-term reliability and flexibility. Commonwealth also managed material procurement, supported construction, and delivered detailed record drawings, ensuring Avista met its tight deadlines and achieved the in-service date.

The collaboration between Avista and Commonwealth highlights the importance of innovative physical substation design and expert project management. By delivering a scalable and efficient wind farm substation layout, Commonwealth enabled Avista to meet growing renewable energy demands while ensuring operational scalability and reliability. This project underscores the critical role of forward-thinking substation interconnection solutions in supporting sustainable energy generation and future growth.