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Challenges in All-DC Offshore Wind Power Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandra Follo

    (Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
    Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Oscar Saborío-Romano

    (Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Elisabetta Tedeschi

    (Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Povo, Italy)

  • Nicolaos A. Cutululis

    (Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

Abstract

As the size and distance from shore of new offshore wind power plants (OWPPs) increase, connection to shore using high-voltage (HV) direct-current (DC) technology becomes more cost-effective. Currently, every offshore wind power plant has a collection system based on medium-voltage alternating-current technology. Such systems rely on heavy and bulky low-frequency (i.e., 50 or 60 Hz) transformers: a drawback offshore, where equipment weight and space are restricted. Consequently, there is growing interest in medium-voltage direct-current collection systems, in which low-frequency transformers are replaced with DC/DC converters equipped with lighter and smaller medium-frequency transformers. However, the deployment of all-DC OWPPs still faces several challenges. Based on a very comprehensive and critical literature review, three of them are identified and discussed in this paper. The first challenge is the technological gap at component level. In this work, the DC/DC converter topologies most suitable for application to OWPPs are described and compared. The second challenge is the controllability of DC collection systems. Parallel, series and hybrid DC collection system layouts are presented and discussed. The third challenge is the compliance of all-DC OWPPs with current requirements for their connection to the onshore grids. The three challenges are discussed to highlight current research gaps and potential future directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Follo & Oscar Saborío-Romano & Elisabetta Tedeschi & Nicolaos A. Cutululis, 2021. "Challenges in All-DC Offshore Wind Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6057-:d:641294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rodrigues, S. & Restrepo, C. & Kontos, E. & Teixeira Pinto, R. & Bauer, P., 2015. "Trends of offshore wind projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1114-1135.
    2. De Prada Gil, Mikel & Domínguez-García, J.L. & Díaz-González, F. & Aragüés-Peñalba, M. & Gomis-Bellmunt, Oriol, 2015. "Feasibility analysis of offshore wind power plants with DC collection grid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 467-477.
    3. Sheng Jie Shao & Vassilios G. Agelidis, 2010. "Review of DC System Technologies for Large Scale Integration of Wind Energy Systems with Electricity Grids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(6), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Robles, Eider & Haro-Larrode, Marta & Santos-Mugica, Maider & Etxegarai, Agurtzane & Tedeschi, Elisabetta, 2019. "Comparative analysis of European grid codes relevant to offshore renewable energy installations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 171-185.
    5. Madariaga, A. & Martín, J.L. & Zamora, I. & Martínez de Alegría, I. & Ceballos, S., 2013. "Technological trends in electric topologies for offshore wind power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 32-44.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhonghuan Su & Longfu Luo & Jun Liu & Zhongxiang Li & Hu Luo & Peng Zhao, 2022. "Study of the Harmonic Analysis and Energy Transmission Mechanism of the Frequency Conversion Transformer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, January.

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