Power Electronics for Reliable and Energy efficient Renewable Energy Systems

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Successful realization of high power renewable energy projects like offshore wind parks bring about quite a few new challenges regarding power electronics. The project applicant believes that two of the most important challenges that need to be met will b e energy efficient conversion of energy from high cost production units, and to substantiate sufficient reliability and availability of conversion units. Efficient and reliable conversion will be the two most important sub-goals for the project. On compon ent fault mechanisms involving semiconductor devices the Chemnitz University of Technology will be a valuable partner. Other sub-goals are advanced control strategies for grid-connected converters, wide-band models for various power components, and real-t ime emulators for power components. The ambition for the applied project is to give a significant contribution to the already significant international R&D work on within these areas. It is also the ambition to provide the project partners with decision b ases and software tools for developing new applications of power electronics. Also new concepts for power grids will be made possible by power electronic conversion and control. The project goals will be approached by accomplishing realistic scenario anal ysis of renewable energy system grids, supported by numerical simulations and energy laboratory experiments. As an integrated part of the project the SINTEF staffs involved is also planned for guidance of MSc and PhD students at NTNU, thereby giving a sub stantial contribution of new expertise to the industry. The project plan includes financing of one PhD scholarship and one Post doc.