Large wind generators design, performance and control: An overview

Wind energy installed power worldwide reached 350.000 MW in 2015 with strong prospects to grow notably in the next 20 years. The cases of E.U. and of Denmark are illustrated. Electric generators and their power electronics control represent an important part of any wind energy conversion system, besides the turbine, tower and auxiliary electrical equipment. Large wind generator transmission stages designs, tailored to application, of various types with ever better performance up to 10 MW per unit are envisaged for the near future and are presented in this lecture. The same technology is shown to be applicable to other related industries such as pump storage and inertial storage needed to reconcile wind energy production variability with consumers. Typical and new control systems for large wind generators are reviewed also.