Wind power – a problem for voltage balance across the grid
It was as long ago as the 1970s when talk first began in UK government circles about the value of wind generation on an industrial scale as a prospective source of electricity, although only in recent years have we seen a considerable expansion in our use of wind energy. Nonetheless, if there is one problem that wind power poses, it is that the windier the weather, the more power that is delivered. This creates a need for suitable voltage reduction measures, as EcoAdapt (http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk) investigates.
As one of the world’s leading producers of wind power – having a particularly prominent role in offshore wind power generation – the UK has long been at the forefront of the latest wind energy developments. Indeed, it was in 2007 that the government agreed, as part of the European Union, to aim to generate 20% of the EU’s energy supply from renewable sources by the year 2020. This was followed by the announcement of plans for an expansion in the country’s wind energy.
There is little doubt as to the considerable benefit of wind power in a rapidly changing landscape of energy generation, but the increasing use of wind turbines also increases the importance of suitable voltage regulators. The reason for that is wind generation’s notorious variability, with the amount of electricity that is produced at any one time being affected by such factors as air density, turbine characteristics and wind speeds.
Insufficient wind speeds – those that drop below 2.5 m/s (metres per second) – naturally mean that a wind turbine is unable to generate sufficient power, while those speeds that are more than about 25 m/s can cause damage to the turbines unless they are shut down. Even when the amount of power that is generated is more manageable, however, the variable nature of wind energy means that the equipment that is being powered by it could receive voltage as high as 253v, or as low as 207v, which is a significant voltage variance.
Grid load engineers face a difficult balancing act with changing power delivery levels from wind turbines. They have to attempt to balance the increased power load which particularly windy weather creates when in fact, given that wind forecasting is not 100% accurate, they have no control over how to match this additional wind generated power with demand.
Given that the optimal voltage for most UK electrical equipment is actually 220v, there is a clear need to better optimise voltage levels received from a wind turbine or similar device. This ensures that energy needs are met, at the same time as making sure that the excess is not wasted in the form of heat and sound energy. A voltage regulator therefore helps to reduce costs while extending the lifespan of all associated equipment.
To learn more about how EcoAdapt can meet your voltage optimisation needs, visit http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk.
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