EUROPEAN WIND ENERGY CONFERENCE EWEC 2007

1. EUROPEAN WIND ENERGY CONFERENCE EWEC 2007 Beyond barriers: A strategic R&D Plan for Small Wind Turbines development. Renewable Energy Division CIEMAT Milan, 7th – 10nd May 2007 Ignacio Cruz, Enrique Soria

2. Contents • State of the art of SWT. • Reasons of the undeveloped market. • Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan • Action 2: Certification promotion • Action 3: New frame demanded for SWT • Applications: • SWT for autonomous and hybrid. • SWT for grid connection. (Building • Integration and micro-grids) • Conclusion and final remarks.

3. State of the art of small wind turbines • First approach December 1998 • Study over 22 Manufacturers from 11 countries (50 models <12 kW) • Conclusions • There is not a real market but they are good expectative • The more common wind turbine is three bladed, upwind, synchronous generator PMG, wind vane orientation, passive regulation and mechanical brake • It is necessary continuous efforts to decreases the costs and increase the reliability • The passive regulation mechanism requires a strong support Thesmall wind turbines are far away from technological maturity and economical competitiveness

4. State of the art of small wind turbines (Con’t) • Revision of the study 2005 (seven years later) • Study over 60 Manufacturers from 21 countries (160 models <50 kW) • The analysis covered • Technical characteristics • Autonomous and grid connected wind turbines • Costs, certifications and guarantees provides • Some technical conclusions came up: • Large scattering in SWT Specific Cost in €/m2 and €/W • Large scattering in SWT Specific Cost in €/m2 Variations from 100 to 1200 €/m2 • Specific Cost decreases with the rated power. The Ave. specific cost range varies from 1,5 to 5 €/W • Diameter variation over 60% for same rated power. (Undergoing IEC-61400 –2 consider several SWT classes) • Scattered weight for same rated power SWT

5. State of the art of small wind turbines (Con’t) • Most of the commercial SWT are not certified: • Power performance IEC 61400-12-1 • Acoustic noise measurement techniques: IEC 61400-11 Ed 2 • Design requirements for SWT IEC 61400-2 Ed 2 • Durability Test: IEC WT01 • Safety and function test IEC WT01 • Why? • Very expensive implementation. • Reports not friendly for the end users. • Standard doesn't represent the complexity of the SWT behaviour. • Solution on going: • User friendly certification reports -> labelling

6. Reasons of the undeveloped market. • At the moment of the last survey, the SWT technology works, but is not mature: • High specific cost (€/kW) and lack of promotion mechanisms, specially for distributed • applications. • Low reliability, especially in windy areas. • Low performance • Lack of user-friendly certification reports. • Lack of SWT products in the power range between 20 and 100 kW

7. Potential support activities proposed. Technical improvement • Reliability and structural design. • Aerodynamic: • Airfoil (Low Reynolds number) • Models. • Turbine noise: Airfoil, RPM. • Durability: Manufacture process and materials. • Power electronics: SWT converters well adapted. Cost effective designs. (Great influence in the total cost) • Control and protection system. • Behaviour of SWT in high wind conditions.

8. Potential support activities proposed. Certification • IEC Wind Turbine standards not always valid for small ones: • Very expensive implementation. • Reports not friendly for the end users. • Standard doesn't represent the complexity of the SWT behaviour. • Solutions proposed: • Mandatory rules, but with public support for testing and certification activities. • Simple, realistic and useful standards.

9. Potential support activities proposed. Policy and regulations • Specific R&D programmes for SWT • Support mechanisms: • Initial cost buy down is useful for off grid SWT. • Adequate feed-in tariff or net metering for grid connected SWT. • Tax or green credits. • Easy to manage permits and grid access. • Implementation of a certification system. • Integration with other RES in hybrid system. • Demonstration projects. • Dissemination of results and technologies.

10. Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan Project MiniEólicaPromotion of the Technology for Small Wind2007 - 2011 Organization of MINIEÓLICA Project: Three working areas are differentiated: First Area: Product Development This area is focused on the support to the manufacturers in the development of their new products. Each line is leaded by one manufacturer which will be helped by technological research centres and private companies. New designs will cover the needs of the market in the power range between 20kW and 100kW. Second Area: Technical Development Breaking technological barriers and propitiate the technological development in key areas for SWT sector are the main objectives of this area. Those activities must be lead by technological R&D Centres and only in some cases by private companies. Technology research for medium-term application is attended in this area. Third Area: Activation of the SWTsector and support infrastructure development The objective of this area is the promotion, dissemination, sensitization and info collection for the SWT sector. Also in order to promote and adequate development of new products and bussiness associated, a new infrastructures are needed, services has to be established (f. i. certification test facilities). A new called “minieolica sector” is pursuable.

11. MINIEÓLICA Project PUBLIC PRIVATE RESEARCH TECHNOLOGICA CENTRES CENTRES PRODUCT TECNOLOGICAL DINAMISATION SMALL WIND SECTOR TAKE OFF • Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan (Con’t) Project Structure

12. Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan (Con’t) First Area: Product Development • Sub-Project 1.1: Development of a new 100 kW high availability fixed speed small wind turbine. TURBEC • LEADER: ECERSA • Sub-Project 1.2: Development of high reliability 25 kW SWT . “VENTO25 QUATRO” • LEADER: WINDECO • Sub-Project 1.3: Development of a new high performance and low cost 50 kW SWT. VELTER 50 • LEADER: SOLENERSA • Sub-Project 1.4: Design, development and manufacturing of a new prototype of VAWT. IDM • LEADER: IDM EOL • Sub-Project 1.5: Development of a new SWT with oscillating stator. • LEADER: HIDROELÉCTRICA DEL CADI • Sub-Project 1.6:Development of new inverter series for SWT grid connected. • LEADER:BORNAY AEROGENERADORES

13. Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan (Con’t) Second area: Technological Development • Sub-Project 2.1: Evaluation and design of rotors. Aerodynamic and aeroacoustics. ROTOR • LIDER: INTA • Sub-Project 2.2: New power converters of high efficiency specific for SWT.Competitive Regulation systems, control and supervisory. Predictive maintenance and tele management. Communications standard IEC 61400-25.(starting in 2008) • Sub-Project 2.3: Development of technology for direct hydrogen production driven by small wind energy. (starting in 2008) • LIDER: AJUSA • Sub-Project 2.4: Development of technology for sea water desalination driven by small wind energy. (starting in 2008)

14. Action 1: Strategic R&D Plan (Con’t) Third Area: Activation of the SWT Sector and support infrastructure development • Sub-Project 3.1: Test and certification of national commercial SWT technology for off-grid and grid connected applications. • LEADER: CIEMAT • Sub-Project 3.2: Development of national wind resources map adapted to small wind applications. • LEADER: CENER • Sub-project 3.3: Technology watch and study. Domestic market promotion and foreign markets assessment. Sensibility, promotion and demonstration Results dissemination. (Starting in 2008) • LEADER: ROBOTIKER/CIEMAT • Sub-Project 3.4: Development of demonstration projects (Starting in 2008) • LEADER: ROBOTIKER/CIEMAT

15. Small Wind Test Facility CIEMAT has recently developed a Small Wind Test Facility (SWTF) to enable operational and performance tests to be carried out on smaller wind turbines. While the performance of larger wind turbines has been widely studied and, generally, readily available, objective information of the performance and reliability of smaller wind turbines has been difficult to obtain. The intent of the SWTF is to test a series of small (< 100 kW) turbines over a sufficient period of time to reasonably evaluate both the performance and the reliability of the units. The test results will be publicly available. 9 small turbines, are currently under test at CEDER.

16. Action 2: SWT Certification SMALL WIND TURBINE CONSUMER LABELING International Energy Agency proposal: Background: IEA Topical Expert Meeting held in Stockholm 2006. Consumer labeling URGENTLY needed for small wind turbines. To enable a speedy development and deployment, both a draft Recommended Practice and Task Proposal has been written by the AdHoc group formed on the Topical Expert Meeting. The basic idea is to base the labeling on the existing IEC standards, which are accepted world-wide (but ignored by much of the small wind turbine industry), instead of developing new standards that may be applicable only in certain countries. Provides independent and comparable information regarding NOISE, ENERGY PERFORMANCE and SAFETY at a glance!

17. Applications: • SWT for autonomous and hybrid systems

18. Applications: • SWT for grid connection • Building integration • Mini grids (DC Bus or AC Bus)

19. Requirements for Building Integration • New technology is required • Fit into the urban environment • Quiet – no flutter, furling, tower thump, or drive train noise • Unobtrusive – “light pole” tower, 10 m height, minimum visual obstruction • Accepted as an “appliance” • Easy to purchase • User friendly interface • Highly reliable – minimum part count • Versatile – on/off grid, 120/240 VAC, low I2R loss • Dramatically simplified distribution - one item to stock • Good low-wind performance

20. Mini grids (AC or DC Bus) SWTmini grids for commercial and industrial areas Reduction of the power electronics costs and cabling losses: DC Bus

21. Small Wind Turbine: Rated power below than 100 kW. At present only used for power supply in remote areas. Specific installed cost is five times above the 500 kW wind turbines. Great potential for grid connected applications. Possibility, because their complementarities to produce energy in hybrid systems with solar PV. Present situation and regulation of SWT sector in Spain

22. SWT PROMOTION SPANISH PRESENT SITUATION: 1)Grid connected applications It does not exits any specific regulation for SWT grid connected. SWT is included in the wind frame. Different technological situation if compared to medium-large technology (≥ 500 kW). Hybridisation possibility specially with solar PV. LV grid connection. Bureaucracy required similar to large wind farms. 2) Isolated applications Lack of funding from regional governments and local institutions Bureaucracy required similar to large wind farms.

23. Two type of installations are distinguished: (both LV grid connection) SWT installations with rated power below 100 kW. Three to five times wind farms fixed feed-tariff (<> 0.07 €/kWh). Hybrid systems with Solar PV grid connected with rated power below 10 kW. Similar feed-in tariff than solar PV (0,4 €/kWh) Standards must follow the international standards for certification of SWT. Action 3: New frame demanded for SWT

24. Most SP manufacturers are involve in new SWT designs in the range between 20 and 100 kW Better understanding of small wind turbine dynamic behavior is necessary. SWT test data and modeling effort will help make better designs. User friendly test info from small turbine testing is required. Demo projects of SWT building integration and SWTmini grids for commercial and industrial areas are also required. Summary

25. Thanks for your attention ignacio.cruz@ciemat.es www.ciemat.es