Open AccessThermal and economic optimisation of windfarm export cable
Author(s) -
Pilgrim James,
Kelly Sean
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2051-3305
DOI - 10.1049/joe.2018.9272
Subject(s) - turbine , reliability (semiconductor) , marine engineering , offshore wind power , wind power , shore , environmental science , thermal , automotive engineering , inertia , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , meteorology , geology , power (physics) , oceanography , physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics
A method is proposed for the economic optimisation of offshore wind cable connections through utilising the thermal inertia of the cable system. Taking account of expected wind yields, turbine reliability, and the dynamic thermal environment, the method determines the economically optimal number of turbines for a given export cable system. Analysis has shown that, providing means to actively curtail generation output so as to thermally protect the cable are in place, it is possible to reduce the cost of energy delivered to shore by up to £1/MWhr through the use of ‘over‐planting’, i.e. building a wind farm that is larger than the continuous rating of its export cables.