FASTAP Transformer for Wind Turbines

Objective

The energy market in general, and the wind energy market in particular, are experiencing constant decrease of prices, together with harsher and harsher grid conditions. In order to comply with worldwide environmental policies, revolutionary solutions, such as FASTAP, need to reach the market as soon as possible.

The FASTAP project aims at scaling from TRL6 to TRL8 the wind turbine application of a very fast on-load tap changer transformer technology. This solution uses thyristors specially connected to multi-tap transformer windings to provide On-Load Tap Changer capability to a standard wind turbine (WTG) transformer. This technology allows to choose the optimum voltage at which the WTG operates in, not only in steady-state conditions but also for dynamic and transient events.

This technology will increase WTGs' electric capabilities in weak grid conditions, enlarge WTGs' Low and High Voltage Ride Through capabilities and allow reducing electrical components oversizing. As an overall, the FASTAP will be able to reduce wind's Leverage Cost of Energy up to 5.5% and will be able to connect to worldwide grids an additional 71.64GW wind capacity.

The consortium partners have been working together for the last three years to bring the technology up to TRL6. They cover the whole value chain, which guarantees that the product will reach the market 33 months after the project kicks-off:

- INF, the market leader in bipolar high-performance semiconductors, brings the technical know-how and commercial capacity for thyristors-based semiconductors.
-SGB, number one medium-sized manufacturer of transformers in Europe, brings the technical know-how and commercial capacity for transformers.
-SG, WTG market leader, will be the integrator and validator of the FASTAP product into <5MW and >5MW platforms.
-MU, the most industrially-oriented University in Spain, was the first originator of the FASTAP concept and will bring FASTAP transformer for Wind Turbines.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels › renewable energy › windpower
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › electrical conductivity › semiconductor
• social sciences › economics and business › business and management › commerce

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
• H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Topic(s)

• EIC-FTI-2018-2020 - Fast Track to Innovation (FTI)

Call for proposal

H2020-EIC-FTI-2018-2020
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IA - Innovation action

Coordinator

SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS

Address

Borupvej 16
7330 Brande
Denmark

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

EU contribution

€ 1 149 802

Participants (3)

MONDRAGON GOI ESKOLA POLITEKNIKOA JOSE MARIA ARIZMENDIARRIETA S COOP

Spain

EU contribution

€ 616 057,50

Address

Loramendi 4
20500 Arrasate

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES BIPOLAR GMBH& CO. KG

Germany

EU contribution

€ 442 837,50

Address

Max-plank-str. 5
59581 Warstein

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

STARKSTROM-GERATEBAU GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG

Germany

EU contribution

€ 788 238

Address

Ohmstrasse 10
93055 Regensburg

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)