FASTAP Transformer for Wind Turbines

The European wind energy sector invests over 1 billion Euro, nearly 5% of its direct contribution to GDP1, annually in development of new cutting-edge technologies to drive down costs even further and facilitate the integration of wind energy into the energy system. An estimation by IRENA states that costs for onshore and offshore wind will drop by 21% and 14% on a global level respectively with every doubling of cumulative installed capacity. They predict an LCOE reduction of 26% for onshore wind and 35% for offshore wind by 2025. However, to deliver this cost reductions, major technological developments are needed. As wind energy becomes a mainstream source of power generation, wind turbine technology and grid infrastructure must develop accordingly. Out-of-the-box technological advances especially in transformers, rotors and generators are a chance for breakthroughs that should not be neglected. Current major needs of the market are focused on: facilitate the integration of renewables in the grid (to deploy wind power in harsh grid conditions), new technologies to support the leap towards bigger and more efficient wind turbines (wind power cost reductions are driven mainly by advancements in WTG technology), major optimisation and cost reduction (drive down of CAPEX and OPEX costs); and technology innovations for uptake of offshore wind in the coming decades. Industry lacks sustainable technological solutions which make wind projects with difficult grid conditions and requirements possible, and that allow for a more adaptive and intelligent power delivery system, thus an opportunity window is open. The FASTAP project is conceived as the vehicle to offer a response to those challenges, contributing to many advantages over the conventional technology solutions. FASTAP is focused on a) Reducing the cost of energy, b) Increase grid integration, c) Open up new markets and, as consequence, it will d) decrease environmental impact and e) improve health and safety of society. FASTAP solution aims to disrupt the existing Wind Energy sector offering a high-tech market enabling solution based on a very fast electronic OLTC transformer technology, offering a new vision of power generation: RESPONSIVE, FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE, not only in steady-state conditions but also for dynamic and transient events. WF operating with FASTAP will be more efficient in energy production and sustainability, allowing the maximization of its WTGs electric capabilities, especially in weak grid conditions.
The FASTAP project aims to achieve the following specific objectives, in a timeframe of 29 months.
1) To develop two FASTAP prototypes, one for oil-immersed transformers (OIT) and another one for dry-type transformers (DTT) -main technologies currently used in WTGs.
2) To demonstrate the functioning of the FASTAP transformer technology through the development of one ad hoc test bench and two operational demos for WTGs with less (4.5 MW) and more than 5 MW (6 MW).
3) To ensure the FASTAP system architecture customization to maximize electric capabilities of all WTGs from any installation type (onshore and offshore) and rated power (<5MW & >5MW), as well as its application to PV energy.
4) To increase WTG electric capabilities especially in weak grid conditions, reducing the need of installing additional equipment at WF level.
5) To enlarge WTG’s Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) and High Voltage Ride Trough (HVRT) capabilities.
6) To allow a new more optimized WTG electric design to reduce the required oversizing due to operation in extended voltage ranges.

During this first reporting period, all the implemented actions have been aimed at:
• Simulation and detailed design and production of OIT and DTT prototype transformers.
• Development of the FASTAP transformers’ control card and drivers.
• Preparation of the test bench, according to the specific characteristics defined after its study.

FASTAP solution will be developed for two main market scenarios: 1) Integration of FASTAP in current operating WF through retrofit and 2) Integration of FASTAP with new disruptive WTG design for the WF of the future. The project will have three main scientific and technological (S&T) impact results that will directly have economic impact in two main categories: a) cost reduction of wind energy and b) Wind market size increase.
In the first scenario, the FASTAP will be used to maximize the electric capabilities of the WTG design with the minimum HW changes just replacing the transformer. In the second scenario, aimed at a new WTG platform which currently is in the design phase, not only the transformer will be replaced but also design changes will be adopted in order to maximize all the potential FASTAP benefits.
The impact of the FASTAP results on CAPEX and AEP, was calculated for a 42MW Wind Farm based on real commercial data coming from Siemens Gamesa Wind Turbines. The final total cost reduction for the 1st scenario is 1.5% which translates in a reduction of direct investments costs of 15,000€ per MW and 5% increase of AEP. For the 2nd scenario, the final total WTG cost reduction is 2% which translates in a reduction of direct investments costs of 18,900€ per MW and 5% increase of AEP.
Taking into account all cost reduction advantages, this project will directly affect the energy cost, increasing the performance and efficiency of WFs, leading to a reduction in LCOE of 5.5%.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIALLY IMPORTANT IMPACTS
1) Towards a zero-carbon economy, reduction of CO2 emissions: The total CO2 emissions avoided by wind energy European Union range from 6,600 to 13,100 MT CO2 over the period 2015-2050, representing around 5-10% of the cumulative emissions under the EU’s reference scenario36, proving its high potential towards decarbonisation. The FASTAP solution will allow an extra potential worldwide wind market of 71,640MW, which represents an increase of 12%37 of the total installed wind capacity, reducing even further CO2 emissions.
2) Challenges during energy transition: Energy markets and investors have three key challenges which could be overcome by new solutions (Figure 8). FASTAP answers to these 3 main challenges by 1) Lowering the LCOE of wind energy, through CAPEX significant reduction and AEP increase 2) Improvements of grid management by allowing HVRT/LVRT 3) Stable supply guarantee and allowing for flexible response, especially in weak grid condition locations.
3) Green jobs and green economy: Together, the onshore and offshore wind industries employed 1.16 million people worldwide in 2018. IRENA estimates that employment in the wind industry would continue to rise, exceeding 3.7 million jobs by 2030 and 6 million jobs by 20507. It should be noted that EU accounts for 30% of all wind energy industry jobs. FASTAP will secure EU green jobs, by increasing the wind market capacity and the reduction of LCOE.

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FASTAP (FASTAP Transformer for Wind Turbines)

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