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Beyond 15 MW: A cost of energy perspective on the next generation of drivetrain technologies for offshore wind turbines

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  • Barter, Garrett E.
  • Sethuraman, Latha
  • Bortolotti, Pietro
  • Keller, Jonathan
  • Torrey, David A.

Abstract

Leading wind turbine manufacturers are racing to build larger and more powerful offshore machines. Drivetrain configurations often use a permanent-magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), in either a direct-drive configuration or coupled to a gearbox. With increasing demand for critical rare-earth magnets, new generator technologies are emerging to ensure a stable and secure supply chain. We evaluate three different topologies of radial flux synchronous generators employing high field magnets with reduced or no rare-earth content: a direct-drive interior PMSG (DD-IPMSG), a geared drivetrain combining a medium speed gearbox with a PMSG (MS-PMSG), and a direct-drive low-temperature superconducting generator (DD-LTSG). We develop a conceptual design module for each of these technologies within a larger framework for full turbine design. This provides the fairest comparison between technologies at nominal power ratings from 15–25MW, which represent the next generation of offshore wind turbines. The analyses show that if operational expenditures (OpEx) are constant across the technologies, MS-PMSG results in the lowest LCOE with reductions of up to 7% relative to DD-IPMSG. DD-LTSG also yields lower LCOE values by 2%–3% for fixed-bottom turbines and 3%–5% with a floating platform. However, results are sensitive to OpEx assumptions, with a mere 10% increase causing the conclusions to shift.

Suggested Citation

  • Barter, Garrett E. & Sethuraman, Latha & Bortolotti, Pietro & Keller, Jonathan & Torrey, David A., 2023. "Beyond 15 MW: A cost of energy perspective on the next generation of drivetrain technologies for offshore wind turbines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:344:y:2023:i:c:s0306261923006360
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ga-Eun Jung & Hae-Jin Sung & Minh-Chau Dinh & Minwon Park & Hyunkyoung Shin, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of Economics of PMSG and SCSG Floating Offshore Wind Farms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Alan Turnbull & Conor McKinnon & James Carrol & Alasdair McDonald, 2022. "On the Development of Offshore Wind Turbine Technology: An Assessment of Reliability Rates and Fault Detection Methods in a Changing Market," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mao, Yufeng & Zhong, Mingliang & Wang, Ji X., 2023. "Dimensionless study of phase-change-based thermal protection for pulsed electromagnetic machines: Towards heat absorption-dissipation matching," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).

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