Renewable Energy Sources and Integration

Course Overview

• The course EPE354 focuses on the integration of renewable energy sources, aiming to provide basic knowledge on the properties of different renewable energy sources, requirements for successful integration, and techniques for integration with power systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge and Understanding:
  • State the basics of different renewable energy sources and their integration with power systems.
  • Identify the influence of renewable energy sources on the electrical grid.
  • Mention grid code requirements and the mitigation of renewable energy resources effects.
• Intellectual Skills:
  • Analyze the integration of wind energy systems and solar cells systems to the grid.
  • Analyze the specification of voltage level of integrated renewable energy resources.
  • Analyze the mitigation of renewable energy resources effects.
• Professional and Practical Skills:
  • Apply grid code requirements on the integration of renewable sources with the grid.
  • Verify the techniques of integration of renewable sources with the grid.
  • Solve problems related to the influence of renewable energy sources on the electrical grid.
• General and Transferable Skills:
  • Familiarize with the correct methods of dealing with renewable energy sources integrated in power systems.
  • Work in groups on design projects on the integration of different renewable energy sources with power grids.

Course Contents

• Integration of wind energy systems to the grid
• Integration of solar cells systems to the grid
• Specification of voltage level of integrated renewable energy resources
• Influence of renewable energy sources on the electrical grid (transient behavior, fault current level, power quality)
• Grid code requirements
• Mitigation of renewable energy resources effects

Renewable Energy Sources

• Renewable energy sources include wind energy, tidal energy, wave energy, solar energy, biomass, and geothermal energy.
• Wind and solar energy sources are growing fast due to their distributed nature, reasonable cost, and inexhaustible sources.
• The costs of PV energy production have been reduced by more than 30% during the last decade and will continue decreasing in the future.

Types of Wind Turbine Generators

• Fixed speed wind turbine generators:
  • Simple, robust, and cheap.
  • Uncontrollable speed.
• Variable speed wind turbine generators:
  • Full-converter and partial-converter types.
  • Limited speed range and low efficiency.
  • High cost (full rated converter) and partial rated converter (lower cost).
• Types of wind turbine generators include:
  • Squirrel cage induction generator (IG)
  • Wound rotor induction generator (IG)
  • Synchronous generator (PM or SyncGen)
  • Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)

Wind Farm Integration to the Grid

• Wind farm integration involves connecting wind turbines to the grid.
• Type-3 wind turbine (DFIG) and Type-4 wind turbine (PMSG) are used.

PV Farm Integration to the Grid

• Grid-connected PV inverter topologies:
  • Centralized inverters
  • String inverters
  • Multi-string inverters
• PV farm integration involves connecting PV modules to the grid.

Performance During Fault

• Wind turbine performance during fault:
  • Fault detection and protection
  • Control system adjustment
  • Crowbar activation for protection

Learn about the basics of different renewable energy sources, their integration with power systems, and the requirements for successful integration. This course covers the properties and influence of renewable energy sources on transmission and distribution systems.