WinGrid aims to train the next generation of researchers on future power system integration issues associated with large-scale deployment of wind generation, focusing on the modelling and control aspects of wind turbine design, and the system stability issues and supervisory structures required for robust implementation. The volume of wind installations is growing rapidly, giving rise to various concerns about future power system stability. More sophisticated modelling capability is required to fully assess the growing complexity as we advance towards a 100% RES resilient power system, while new wind generation technologies are emerging which may radically impact how the future system evolves, against a background of more stringent grid code requirements and emerging system service markets. Highly-skilled researchers, capable of solving such problems, are scarce and in high demand by industry. WinGrid comprises 10 academics from 8 beneficiary organisations. It also has 11 internationally renowned companies ranging from the whole supply chain. Combined together we provide wide-ranging expertise in power electronics converters, control theory, system stability analysis, power system operation and electricity markets. The ESRs enjoy a highly integrated, multi-disciplinary training environment, including access to specialist software and hardware-in-the-loop test environments, enriched through secondments with the network of industrial partners. WinGrid enable critical learning across all training aspects, in order to ensure that comprehensive, robust and implementable solutions are obtained and validated to face the grid integration challenges of the future.
Research objectives:
Objective A: To develop advanced model reduction and robust control strategies to evaluate the dynamic interactions between individual wind turbines, between wind farm strings, and between wind farms and the grid.
Objective B: To develop technical solutions which maximise the potential for wind turbines to provide frequency control support services, when such systems are implemented at scale with high wind shares, and to assess the opportunities for deploying local energy storage for optimisation of ancillary service revenue streams and a reduction in the maintenance cost cycle. Also balancing services from wind-hybrid solutions including solar PV and energy storage will be developed.
Objective C: To develop advanced modelling and control techniques for the emerging technologies of synchronverter based and hydrostatic transmission based wind turbines.
Social impact:
Contribution to structuring doctoral/early-stage research training at the European level and to strengthening European innovation capacity: The WinGrid consortium aims to provide an excellent training to our ESRs in an area at the interface of control engineering, power electronics, power systems and wind energy. WinGrid will structure the European research in the field, and enhance the innovation capability in Europe.
Strengthening EU research innovation capacity: The training provides highly technical academic skills to the ESRs, in addition to interpersonal skills, which will feed through to develop the next generation of intellectual and technical leaders in European academia and industry and will therefore enhance the EU’s leadership status in this area.
Industrial impact: The proposed research is dealing with a few challenging topics in wind farm – grid interactions, as evidenced by the enthusiastic participation in the WinGrid network by industries. These industries are vital to the EU’s economy and energy security. For example, the European Wind Energy Association predicts that by 2050, 50% of the EU’s electricity demand will be met by wind. Thus, the proposed research into the wind farm-grid interactions addresses a growth area of the EU economy and will therefore contribute to its economic, environmental and societal wellbeing
