Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
As a result EC launched the call for proposals and the manu-
facturers who earlier were involved in manufacturing smaller
machines and who had a genuine interest in commercialising
large wind turbine systems responded to the EC calls and won
contracts to design and build commercial prototypes of MW-size
wind turbines (Table 2.1).
The involvement of the commercial industry in these programs
changed the scene considerably. The testing and evaluation pro-
grams, sponsored by individual governments and realised by large
engineering and aircraft companies came gradually to an end. Many
wind turbines were decommissioned. The physical end of some of
the wind turbines was quite spectacular as they were dynamited,
like the MOD 2s in the USA and the GROWIAN and Aeolus II in
Germany. The technology firms were not interested in commer-
cialising their products, either because of disbelieve in a future for
wind energy or they considered themselves too expensive. Many
of these companies were not used to cost constraints dictated by
the wind energy market.
The WEGA and THERMIE programs mark the beginning of
consequent upscaling of wind turbines. The developments can
be characterised by step-by-step upscaling of smaller, successful
commercial wind turbines. Many of the advanced technical
concepts, like teetering hubs, downwind rotors, fast-running 1- and
2-bladed rotors, were abandoned by the commercial companies.
Their first prototypes were on the conservative side, because
reliability was the most important selling point rather than the
future promise of cost reduction of advanced systems. Later
innovations were introduced which were diferent from the
first generation machines. The most spectacular improvements
included the introduction power electronic convertors which
increased the controllability of turbines significantly. These con-
version systems combined with blade pitch control and advanced
multi-parameter control strategies made the modern machines
compatible with the grid requirements. Critical design procedures
and the application of new materials resulted in weight reductions
and consequently to the reduction of electricity generation cost.
2.4
Research and Development
Apart national programs, notably in Denmark, Germany, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, USA, Italy and
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