Efficient wind energy generation within Arctic latitudes

Abstract

The paper addresses approaches to increasing the efficiency of wind turbines operating in autonomous mode in Arctic regions. Such type of wind turbine operation is related to fluctuations of the generated power, that negatively affects grid power quality. The increase of wind turbines efficiency is achieved by the utilization of current reserve of power converter, which is a necessary part of megawatts-sized wind energy generation unit. The developed Simulink model of the wind turbines, built according to two of the most suitable for megawatts-level power generation topologies, was used to determine their power output depending on the wind turbine’s rotor speed and the wind speed. Obtained power profile was then used to determine the amount of free current reserve depending on the wind speed, which has verified the ability of both wind turbine topologies to efficiently improve grid power quality, therefore leading to reduction or absence of the necessity to install additional power equipment for the compensation purpose.