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Electrical Systems for Wave Energy Converter Arrays

Electrical Systems for Wave Energy Converter Arrays. Fergus Sharkey School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Supervisors: Michael Conlon and Kevin Gaughan May 17 th 2013. Outline. Introduction and Motivation for Research Wave Energy, Wave Energy Converters and Arrays

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Electrical Systems for Wave Energy Converter Arrays

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  1. Electrical Systems for Wave Energy Converter Arrays Fergus Sharkey School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Supervisors: Michael Conlon and Kevin Gaughan May 17th 2013

  2. Outline Introduction and Motivation for Research Wave Energy, Wave Energy Converters and Arrays Challenges for WEC Array electrical systems Techno-economic optimisation and design tools Publications Future Research Conclusions

  3. Introduction Graduate of DIT Kevin Street Employed by ESBI since 2005 Seconded to Wavebob (TPA) 2010 - 2011 Part of ESB Ocean Energy Team PhD Research in DIT Kevin Street since 2010

  4. Motivation for Research Lack of industry experience of electrical systems for WEC arrays – convergence required Technology developing before application understood WEC developers lack electrical knowledge and can develop devices with inherent electrical issues

  5. Wave Energy and Wave Energy Converters (WECs) There are numerous ways described to convert wave energy (mostly to electrical power) Devices are classed on location (onshore, near-shore, deepwater) And capture method (point absorber, terminator, attenuator, oscillating water column) 60o 30o 0o 30o 60o Up to 6GW ‘practical accessible’ installed capacity

  6. “Wave Farms”

  7. Offshore Wind and Wave Test Sites

  8. Wave Farm Requirements / Challenges Individual device ratings are lower (~1MW) Devices are divergent and may have low capacity factors Water depth and distance from shore is larger Devices require connection and disconnection for installation and maintenance Devices are not fixed structure therefore interface to network is complex Array spacing is driven by different factors Sites are high energy and cable installation and protection may be a challenge Test site experience can help up to a point

  9. Techno-Economic Optimisation State of the art – Offshore Wind and Wave Test Sites Wave Farm Electrical Network Roadmap Key Interfaces Economics of WEC Array Electrical Networks System Issues – Flicker and Grid Access

  10. Macro and Micro Perspective 0.1-0.4Hz Techno-Economic Optimisation and Design Issues

  11. Publications 6 Conference Papers, 2 Journal Papers and 1 Book Chapter

  12. Selection of Results

  13. Results… continued 0.1-0.4Hz

  14. Ongoing/ Planned Research • Main focus is on completing outstanding papers • EWTEC Paper complete and submitted • Impacts on the Electrical System Economics from Critical Design Factors of Wave Energy Converters and Arrays • UPEC Paper ongoing with assistance from DIT undergrad student • The Domestic and Export Market for Large Scale Wave Energy in Ireland and the Economics of Export Transmission • IJME Journal Paper Revisions due May 2013 • Plan to prepare and submit Thesis by end 2013

  15. Conclusions • Organised, comprehensive top-down approach taken to research. • Electrical Networks for WEC Arrays • Key Interfaces • Economics • System Issues such as PQ and Grid Access • Disseminated through multiple publications • Thesis will be first complete academic examination of electrical systems for wave energy converters • Practical focussed research and developed methodologies, tools and conclusions will be valuable to industry at current stage.

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