Grid Converters for Photovoltaic and Wind Power Systems

Preface

The penetration of wind- and photovoltaic (PV)-generated electrical energy into the grid system worldwide is increasing exponentially. A limiting factor is the increasingly stringent grid requirements imposed by different grid operators aiming to maintain grid stability. Both wind power (WP) plants and PV power plants are connected to the grid through grid converters which, besides transferring the generated DC power to the AC grid, should now be able to exhibit advanced functions like: dynamic control of active and reactive power; stationary operation within a range of voltage and frequency; voltage ride-through; reactive current injection during faults; participation in a grid balancing act like primary frequency control, etc. Therefore the aim of this book is to explain the topologies, modulation and control of grid converters for both PV and WP applications. In addition to the classical handbooks in power electronics this book shows the PV- or wind turbine (WT)- specific control functions according to the recent grid codes and enhances the classical synchronization and current control strategies with the general case when the grid is unbalanced.

The idea of this book originated in a biannual Industrial/PhD course ‘Power Electronics for Renewable Energy Systems’ started in May 2005 in Aalborg University, Institute for Energy Technology, and is successfully continued with over 250 PhDs or industry engineer attendees (by the end of 2010). The success of this course was ...