Efficient and Reliable Energy Conversion Technique for 20MW-level Offshore Wind Energy

The Focus Group “Efficient and Reliable Energy Conversion Technique for 20MW-level Offshore Wind Energy” involves Hans Fischer Fellow Prof. Zhenbin Zhang (Shandong University) and his host Prof. Carlo L. Bottasso (Chair of Wind Energy, TUM School of Engineering and Design).

Harvested by advanced technical systems honed over decades of research and development, (offshore) wind energy has become one of mainstream energy resources. Currently 16MW offshore wind turbines have been installed and 18-20MW wind turbines are under investigation and on the way to be integrated to the power grid. Major concerns lie at cost reduction so to improve the economic benefits, and to mitigate its diverse impacts on the grid. In this focus group, the applicant will collaborate closely with the host in a(n) (aero-mechanical-power electronics-control) multi-disciplinary manner on two aspects of techniques: 
1) how to maximize the wind energy capture ratio and reduce the turbine load for 20MW level wind turbine systems; 
2) how to enhance the stability of large wind power-grid system under large-range stiffness varying and weak grid conditions. 
Tackling the scientific and engineering problems of the first target will yield techniques to improve overall power conversion efficiency and extended system life-span hence to lower the cost, while the second, will lead to solutions to mitigate large diverse impacts on the modern stiffness-varying grid.