All at sea – Grid Integration of Offshore Wind Energy
Offshore wind power is set for a strong future, not least in Germany where the phase out of nuclear power will see the country lose around a quarter of its generating capacity in the next decade. Germany is already leading the way in wind power on the continent with 27,214 MW of installed capacity and the government is looking to increase this figure further as it favours wind over other renewables.

The Future for electricity transmission in Europe and the integration of wind power
The European Commission’s energy strategy for Europe requires that 20% of all energy consumed within the EU is from renewable sources by 2020. The Commission estimates that 12% of overall energy use should be supplied by offshore wind. Further, the Renewable Directives also require member states to implement sufficient grid capacity to accept wind power; and include a framework to encourage priority access and despatch for wind generated power.

The requirements for wind turbines and services for grid code compliance
The advancement in offshore wind power technology has led to larger turbines and larger wind farms being deployed throughout Europe. Where previously wind farms had been thought of as single distributed power generators, they must now be considered as integral components of the overall energy supply system, and be subject to the same regulations as other types of power generation.

Pitch Systems in Wind Turbines - Reducing Load and Enhancing Turbine Safety
All wind turbines are equipped with a certain power control feature in case the speed of the wind is too high or too low and to have a frequency coherent with the grid. The traditional and the simplest and least expensive method in this respect is a system of natural limitation known as "stall"...

Grid Codes – Understanding area specific requirements to ensure compliance with the power generation system
For wind turbines, the electrical grids are the interconnected networks in which the energy coming from turbines is delivered directly to the public network. Grid Codes vary from country to country; each Grid Code deals with specific technical issues and it is directly connected to the type of wind farm and transmission in every country.

Converters – low-voltage versus medium-voltage converter technology
Traditional fixed-speed turbines employing an induction generator directly connected to the grid have been replaced by the modern variable-speed turbines (with power above 2 MW) which use power converters, either at partial scale or full scale. File name: EE Wind Systems - Converters – low-voltage versus medium-voltage converter technology

Wind generators – the advantages and disadvantages
Wind is the movement of air caused by air masses at different temperatures. The difference in temperature is caused by the water and earth masses that absorb differently the heat of the sun. On a global scale, the massive movements of air are caused by the temperature differences between the air at the equator and that near the two poles. The wind is thus a renewable source of energy that is used in order to produce electricity.

Offshore and onshore wind farm solutions
Wind – an infinite source of energy that society is harnessing more and more. Wind generated energy is forecast to increase from 158 GW in 2009 to 410 GW in 2014. Wind power, now a mainstream energy technology, benefits people and society at large. It plays a pivotal role in combating climate change and reducing our fossil fuel dependence. As cutting edge solutions are critical to reliable wind power generation and network integration, operators need the skills and experience of Alstom Grid, a world leader in electricity transmission.

Challenging Offshore Wind – Make better use of wind power offshore
The intermittent nature of windfarms requires specialised systems for high power quality and maximum grid stability. Alstom Grid offers efficient and reliable solutions.