Power electronics and controls for large wind turbines and wind farms

Wind power represents a major and growing source of renewable energy for electric power systems. This chapter provides an overview of state-of-the-art technologies and anticipated developments in the area of power electronic drives, controls, and electric generators for large multi-megawatt (MW) wind turbine (WT) systems. The principal components employed in a turbine for energy conversion from wind to electricity are described, and the main solutions that are commercially available are briefly reviewed. The specific issues of complex mission profiles, grid codes, and also reliability arediscussed. The topics of power electronics, ranging from devices to circuit topologies, and similar matters for electric generators, together with the results of optimal design studies, are included. It is shown that the individual power rating of WTs has increased over the years and technologies required in order to reach and even exceed a power rating of 10 MW are discussed. The role of power electronics for improving the operation of WTs and ensuring compliance with power grid codes is analyzed with a view to produce fully controllable generation units suitable for a tight integration into the power grid and large-scale deployment in the future smart power systems.