Wind: generating power and cooling the power lines

Abstract

The electric power that can be transmitted via high-voltage transmission lines is limited by the Joule heating of the conductors. In the case of coastal wind farms, the wind that produces power simultaneously contributes to the cooling of high-voltage overhead conductors. Ideally this would allow for increased power transmission or decreased dimensions and cost of the conductor wires. In this study we investigate how well the wind speed in coastal wind farms is correlated with wind along a 75 km long 330 kW power line towards inland. It is found that correlations between wind speed in coastal wind farms at turbine height and conductor-level (10 m) are remarkably lower (R=0.39–0.64) than between wind farms at distances up to 100 km from each other (R=0.76–0.97). Dense mixed forest surrounding the power line reduces both local wind speed and the correlations with coastal higher-level wind, thus making the cooling effect less reliable.