Objective Objectives The main objective of the project is to investigate how the power quality of the electrical output of wind farms may be improved by the use of Advanced Static VAr Compensators utilising Gate Turn Off Thyristor Technology. STATCOM can be used to provide reactive power with sufficient rapid control to eliminate any possibility of self-excitation and the associated hazards. R&D on novel electrical equipment will be combined with its application to increase the penetration of wind energy in the EU. The purpose is to develop and investigate the use of STATCOM by field testing an 8-Mvar unit at the 24 MW Rejsby Hede Wind Farm in Denmark. A further objective is to investigate how the same STATCOM may be used for dynamic control of network voltage and thus to increase the size of wind farms which may be connected to existing weak electrical distribution networks without any need for network upgrading. Technical Approach Initially network studies for the wind farm site will be carried out by Siemens in order to find out how GTO- thyristor-based STATCOMs may be developed and applied for the 24 MW wind farm at Rejsby Hede. The network studies include harmonic analyses, load flow calculations and transient simulations. The final design of the compensator, its characteristics and control system will be determined. Thereafter an 8-Mvar STATCOM will be constructed and factory tested and installed at the site. It will be site tested before a one-year trial period during which its performance and behaviour will be intensively investigated and monitored. How STATCOMs may be used to increase the capacity of weak rural distribution networks to accept wind generated electricity will be investigated. Expected Achievements and Exploitation The utilisation of wind energy in the EU is often limited by the ability of the local distribution network to accept the output of wind farms. The STATCOM is one of the emerging family of FACTS (Flexible A.C. Transmission System) controllers, which allow improved utilisation of the power network. STATCOM will allow wind farms to generate at unity power factors, thus reducing voltage drops and reducing electrical losses in the network without the possibility of transient overvoltages at islanding due to self excitation, and wind generators. Moreover, STATCOM equipment with different control philosophy, can be used to control the network voltage, which will fluctuate in response to the wind farm output if the distribution network is weak. The successful implementation of the STATCOM will allow increased utilisation of existing electrical infrastructures in rural areas of the EU. The project results will be published via a workshop organized for European electricity utilities, wind farm operators and wind turbine manufacturers, universities and research organizations. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systemsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind powerhumanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophy Programme(s) FP4-NNE-JOULE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0304 - Wind energy Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Jysk-Fynske Elsamarbejde I/S Address 1-11,fjordvejen 7000 Fredericia Denmark See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all National Wind Power Ltd GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Furlong road SL8 5AJ Bourne end - buckinghamshire See on map Siemens AG Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1,freyesleben stasse 91058 Erlangen See on map Sønderjyllands Højsændingsværk An/S Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address 185,flensborgvej 6200 Åbenrå See on map TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1,anker engelundsvej 1 327 2800 Lyngby See on map UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sackville street M60 1QD Manchester See on map
