Identification of the best power plant layout for large offshore wind farms connected via VSC-HVDC links

The overall purpose of this paper is to find out the best choice in terms of generator technology for large offshore wind farms connected to the EHV network by means of VSC-HVDC transmission: besides the traditional benefits compared with HVAC and line commutated HVDC, this technology allows variable frequency operation, in order to increase the overall production of the wind farm. Two different types of generators - Squirrel Cage Induction Generator (SCIG) and Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) - are compared in variable frequency operation: the related power plant layouts are analyzed, for different wind speed conditions, by means of a slightly modified version of an online optimization algorithm. The resulting programs are coded in MATLAB® environment and some tests are carried out.