Test Facility for grid connection characteristics of wind power plants - Phase 1

Requirements to wind turbines aiming to support the integration of wind power plants into power systems are becoming increasingly important in R&D and design of new wind turbines. As a consequence, there is a growing need for test and validation of the interaction between wind turbines and gird. This project deals with test facilities, i.e. equipment which can be applied to emulate specific grid conditions on the terminals of a wind turbine in order to test the wind turbine response to such conditions.



Dedicated tests of wind turbines Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) capabilities have been common practice for several years, and are required in most grid codes. Such tests are also included in the wind turbine power quality test standard IEC 61400-21. However, the standard LVRT test equipment using impedances to provide voltage dips at the turbine terminals is dedicated to this specific type of test, but there are many other grid conditions which are relevant to test. A power converter test facility offers a very high degree of freedom in terms of possible grid conditions to emmulate. The present report mainly considers these two options for test equipment, but also discusses other options.



The aim of the project was to find the right technical solution for the test facility, together with an establishment and operational budget. Furthermore, the possible funding options and operational organisations were to be investigated, culminating in implementation plan.