New IEC Standard to help improve wind turbine quality
Wind power technology has seen remarkable developments in recent years, spurred on by its promise as a dependable source of renewable energy. As a result, it has moved from a niche form of power generation to acquire complete legitimacy in the energy sector. To respond to this rapid evolution in the technology, the IEC has published the second edition of its Standard for measuring the power quality of wind turbines.
Developed by IEC Technical Committee 88 (Wind turbines), IEC 61400-21 sets out the tests that can be used to compare both wind turbines of different types or makes and different electricity grid requirements. The latter are complex as they typically consider the capability of a wind farm rather than that of a single wind turbine.
Some 20 years ago, the common wind turbine was rated at about 50 kW. Today, multi-MW wind turbines are concentrated on big wind farms. Modern wind farms may control the reactive power or voltage just like any other power plant, and may also control active power or frequency as long as wind conditions permit. Hence, connecting modern wind power plants to the grid presents very similar challenges to those of connecting any other power plant.
Different wind turbine types have different power quality characteristics. IEC 61400-21 provides a uniform methodology to ensure consistency and accuracy in the presentation, testing and assessment of power quality characteristics of grid-connected wind turbines. The power quality characteristics described in the IEC Standard include: wind turbine specifications; voltage quality (emissions of flicker and harmonics); voltage drop response; power control (control of active and reactive power); grid protection; and reconnection time.
IEC 61400-21 is expected to become an essential tool for wind turbine test stations, research institutes, electric utilities and grid operators, as well as for manufacturers of wind turbines and sub-suppliers of electric and control equipment for wind turbines.
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