Research

21 pages, 1646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Spatial Aspects in the Selection of Wind Farm Locations: Integrating the GIS and PROMETHEE Methods

by Boško Josimović, Danijela Srnić, Božidar Manić and Ivana Knežević

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5332; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13095332 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1406

Abstract

Apart from wind potential, there are many other spatial factors which impact the possible implementation of wind farm projects. The spatial advantages and limitations of these factors can be used as criteria for selecting the most suitable location for a potential wind farm. [...] Read more.

Apart from wind potential, there are many other spatial factors which impact the possible implementation of wind farm projects. The spatial advantages and limitations of these factors can be used as criteria for selecting the most suitable location for a potential wind farm. The specific method for evaluating wind farm locations in this paper is novel because of its choice of spatial criteria and its two-stage evaluation procedure. The first stage involves the elimination of unfavorable areas for locating a wind farm, based on elimination criteria, using GIS. The second stage is the selection of the most suitable wind farm location using the PROMETHEE method. This is based on the multi-criteria evaluation of locations according to different weight categories and scenarios. The results are then multiplied based on which decision-making subjects can make appropriate decisions. The results indicate that the method presented has a universal character in terms of its application. However, its specifics in terms of quantitative statements for the individual spatial criteria used in the evaluation depend on the specifics of national and international regulations, the area in question and the particular project. By integrating the spatial criteria with the relevant legislation, this method has potential for global application. It aims towards systematicity, efficiency, simplicity and reliability in decision-making. In this way, potential conflicts and risks for investors and other users of the space are prevented in the earliest development phase of a wind farm project. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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21 pages, 8251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reliable Frequency Control Support Scheme Based on Wind Power Generator Combined with Rechargeable Energy Storage System Applying Adaptive Power Reference

by Roland Kobla Tagayi, Seungyun Han, Hyewon Lee and Jonghoon Kim

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5302; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13095302 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1294

Abstract

To reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, the utilization of renewable energy sources has been on the rise. However, as their integration level increases, grid system operators require higher performance of the frequency response service for renewable energy sources, especially wind power generators [...] Read more.

To reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, the utilization of renewable energy sources has been on the rise. However, as their integration level increases, grid system operators require higher performance of the frequency response service for renewable energy sources, especially wind power generators (WPGs). Conventional frequency control schemes release kinetic energy depending on the fixed and adjustable gains in the system difference loop between the standard and current system frequency; however, these conventional schemes cannot provide frequency support outside of the rotor’s speed operating region. In this work, a frequency regulation support strategy employing a WPG and lithium-ion battery based on an adaptable power reference is implemented. This is accomplished by assigning different roles to the WPG and battery. As the primary frequency control support, the WPG uses a frequency deviation loop with adaptable gain which depends on the speed of the rotor and the difference in frequency. Additionally, to assist with the frequency control support, the battery operates based on its state-of-charge (SOC) and rotor speed of the WPG. For investigating the capability of the suggested technique, an IEEE 14-bus system is employed. Qualitative wake effect analysis is further presented in the study to determine the feasibility of the proposed approach which consists of the hybrid WPP–battery system for frequency regulation. The main limitations of this study and further research studies that can be performed in the future to improve the performance of the proposed technique are presented. The scenario study results show that the minimum frequency point during a synchronous generator trip obtains a higher value than conventional ones in the suggested strategy by releasing more stored energy from the WPG and the battery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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15 pages, 4092 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Productivity Potential of Offshore Wind in Poland and Cooperation with Onshore Wind Farm

by Piotr Olczak and Tomasz Surma

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4258; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13074258 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Wind power is the leader in electricity production among the standing RES technologies, both in Poland and in Europe/World. In Poland, so far there are only onshore wind turbines. Their dynamic increase in installed capacity has been observed, especially between 2011 and 2017. [...] Read more.

Wind power is the leader in electricity production among the standing RES technologies, both in Poland and in Europe/World. In Poland, so far there are only onshore wind turbines. Their dynamic increase in installed capacity has been observed, especially between 2011 and 2017. This study analyzed the impact of offshore wind energy on the ability of the Polish power system to meet power demands. For this purpose, methods of statistical analysis (of existing onshore and planned offshore technologies) for the determination of wind turbine productivity based on wind speed components data from the ERA5 service were used. For onshore wind turbines, the value of the capacity factor CF(P) in Poland was 25.5% in 2021 and 30.1% in 2022. As a result of the simulation, it was calculated that for the planned offshore wind farms, the capacity factor CF(B) would be 55.6% under 2022 wind speed conditions. The 2022 peak load demands in the Polish system were also analyzed. The quantitative impact of installing 6 GW of offshore wind turbine capacity on the national power system was also identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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21 pages, 17313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GIS-Based Wind and Solar Power Assessment in Central Mexico

by Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Escobedo, Jesus Alejandro Franco and Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(24), 12800; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app122412800 - 13 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1525

Abstract

In Mexico, the economic and industrial development is in the center and north; this represents more than 50% of the country’s total consumption. Data on population and energy consumption will be obtained from the following sources: the National Institute of Geography and Statistics [...] Read more.

In Mexico, the economic and industrial development is in the center and north; this represents more than 50% of the country’s total consumption. Data on population and energy consumption will be obtained from the following sources: the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), and the Energy Information System. Regarding meteorological data, two databases are used: the Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) (for solar irradiance data) and the MERRA-2 reanalysis data (for wind data). These data will be analyzed for use in a geographic information system (GIS) using kriging interpolation to create maps of solar and wind energy. The area studied includes the following states: Mexico City, Puebla, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Zacatecas, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes and Tlaxcala. The results showed that the areas with the highest solar potential are Hidalgo, Estado de México, Morelos, northern Puebla, southern Queretaro, northwestern Guanajuato, and northern Zacatecas, with 5.89 kWh/m²/day, and the months with the highest solar potential are March, April, May, and June. Regarding wind potential, the maximum wind power density is in Puebla, with 517 W/m², and the windy season in central Mexico spans June, July, August, September, October, and November. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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24 pages, 11209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Analysis on Lateral Resistance of Pile–Bucket Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines

by Zonghao Yuan, Ke Zhong, Xiaoqiang Wang, Xiaodong Pan, Ben He, Jing Wu, Jiankun Zhang and Shiwu Xu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4734; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12094734 - 08 May 2022

Viewed by 1316

Abstract

The large-diameter single pile has been widely used in marine wind turbine foundations. In order to improve its lateral bearing capacity, the suction bucket foundation (BF) can be used as a reinforcement method, which surrounds the periphery of the monopile foundation (PF), forming [...] Read more.

The large-diameter single pile has been widely used in marine wind turbine foundations. In order to improve its lateral bearing capacity, the suction bucket foundation (BF) can be used as a reinforcement method, which surrounds the periphery of the monopile foundation (PF), forming a new wind turbine foundation, i.e., pile–bucket foundation (P–BF). By using the general finite element software ABAQUS, in this paper, several numerical models are established to investigate the influence of pile diameter and bucket diameter on the lateral bearing capacity of large-diameter monopiles. The numerical results show that the internal force distribution along the pile shaft for the case of P–BF is similar to the case of PF. Compared to bucket height, bucket diameter has more of an effect on lateral capacity and the p-y curve in the P–BF. In the combined P–BF, the buckets can provide lateral bearing capacity, and the piles can provide anti-overturning moments, resulting in higher lateral bearing capacity. In this paper, the p-y curve in the API specification is modified based on the results from the finite element simulation. The modified p-y curve fits well with the results of the finite element calculation and can be used as a reference for the design of the P–BF in actual engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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20 pages, 3172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Zero Bid Wind Farm for Future Scotland’s Energy Demands—A New Approach

by Christopher Stoddart, Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki, Mark Anderson, Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey, Ahmad Syahrir Ayub, Mohd Firrdhaus Mohd Sahabuddin, Mohd Khairil Rahmat, Mohd Nabil Muhtazaruddin and Muhammad Zulkipli

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12073326 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2214

Abstract

Offshore wind is in a rapid transitional phase, pushed worldwide by efforts of those to reduce climate change. Wind power is becoming a commercialised, unsubsidised competitive form of low carbon generation of renewable energy. Marketplaces reflect this growing trend with the first introduction [...] Read more.

Offshore wind is in a rapid transitional phase, pushed worldwide by efforts of those to reduce climate change. Wind power is becoming a commercialised, unsubsidised competitive form of low carbon generation of renewable energy. Marketplaces reflect this growing trend with the first introduction of subsidy free bids in a tender for the Dutch and German governments. The analysis of surrounding literature of subsidy free bids and governmental policies revealed that integration of subsidy free bids have been carried out to various extents. Bids like those seen in the German and Dutch governments have been done in accompaniment with supportive policies and measures. For the UK, a possible subsidy free bid could be developed under the Scottish Sectoral Marine Plan. Owing to that, this paper investigates the feasibility of a subsidy free bid for the Scottish government. Utilising the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) metric were inserted into a detailed excel spreadsheet. This paper calculates multiple financial scenarios under the LCOE metric to provide an insight into the possible scenarios of which different models of subsidy free bids can be implemented. The main parameters associated with the BEIS metric and calculator design were investigated. These included financial cost predictions, discount rate, generational capacity and net capacity factors. The final conclusion of the generated output data, showed it was indeed possible to adopt a subsidy free bid under the current UK contract for difference (CfD) scheme under strict and favourable conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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31 pages, 5811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New SQP Methodology for Coordinated Transformer Tap Control Optimization in Electric Networks Integrating Wind Farms

by Gheorghe Grigoraș, Bogdan-Constantin Neagu, Ovidiu Ivanov, Bogdan Livadariu and Florina Scarlatache

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1129; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12031129 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1727

Abstract

The real-time control of optimal power flow (OPF) in electric networks represents, in the last period, a challenge for the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) under the conditions of large-scale integration of renewable energy sources. The paper focused on [...] Read more.

The real-time control of optimal power flow (OPF) in electric networks represents, in the last period, a challenge for the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) under the conditions of large-scale integration of renewable energy sources. The paper focused on the voltage management in the electric networks with wind farms connected, proposing a fast Successive Quadratic Programming (SQP)-based centralized control (CC) methodology of the on-load tap changers (OLTC) corresponding to the transformers from the electric substations, which can be included in the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) module of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Master System. The SQP-CC aims to ensure an optimal voltage level inside a variation range, as narrow as possible, which leads to minimize power losses in the electric networks. Treating the OPF problem as an SQP problem and accelerating convergence using the conjugate reduced gradient method led to very few iterations and a fast computational time, recommending the implementation of the methodology for real-time work. The effectiveness of the SQP-CC was demonstrated in a test network having two voltage levels (220 and 110 kV) with two wind farms integrated, considering two scenarios, without and with wind farms connected. The optimal tap positions of the transformers led to very close voltage variations between the buses of the network, quantified through an average voltage drop between the initial and final buses by 0.004 pu compared with 0.031 pu recorded in the scenario with both wind farms injecting power into the network and without coordinated control of the OLTCs. The energy-saving was over 30% in both scenarios, 33.5% (without wind farms) and 41.27% (both wind farms injecting power in the network). These results highlighted the positive effects of the proposed SQP-CC methodology on the real-time optimal operation of the electric networks integrating wind farms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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29 pages, 8758 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A PMSG Wind Energy System Featuring Low-Voltage Ride-through via Mode-Shift Control

by Rania A. Ibrahim and Nahla E. Zakzouk

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 964; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12030964 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2238

Abstract

Low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and grid support capability are becoming a necessity for grid-tied renewable energy sources to guarantee utility availability, quality and reliability. In this paper, a swap control scheme is proposed for grid-tied permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) MW-level wind turbines. This [...] Read more.

Low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and grid support capability are becoming a necessity for grid-tied renewable energy sources to guarantee utility availability, quality and reliability. In this paper, a swap control scheme is proposed for grid-tied permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) MW-level wind turbines. This scheme shifts system operation from maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mode to LVRT mode, during utility voltage sags. In this mode, the rectifier-boost machine-side converter overtakes DC-link voltage regulation independently of the grid-side converter. The latter attains grid synchronization by controlling active power injection into the grid to agree with grid current limits while supporting reactive power injection according to the sag depth. Thus grid code requirements are met and power converters safety is guaranteed. Moreover, the proposed approach uses the turbine-generator rotor inertia to store surplus energy during grid voltage dips; thus, there is no need for extra hardware storage devices. This proposed solution is applied on a converter topology featuring a minimal number of active switches, compared to the popular back-to-back converter topology. This adds to system compatibility, reducing its size, cost and switching losses. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed approach during normal and LVRT operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Energy: Current Trends, Implementations and Future Developments)

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