DC7: AWE Operation for Grid Serving Behaviour

Objectives

AWEs devices and plants need to provide a sufficient level of grid serving behaviour to be connected to the grid with increasing penetration levels. Furthermore, with higher penetrations, AWE plants can contribute more to load balancing and grit stability as a value proposition. This project will explore how different operational strategies, aircraft design and ground station design can be used to improve the grid serving behaviour. As an example, the power from pumping systems can fluctuate, however, multiple devices operating out of phase can give a steady power injection. The research will start by defining metrics for a range of grid serving behaviour (e.g., load balancing, power factor, frequency stabilization, low-voltage ride through, etc.). A range of operational strategies will be developed, at the device and plant level to achieve a range of desired power generation characteristics. The next stage of the research will investigate how these behaviours can be maintained in changing weather conditions. Furthermore, the research will also look at how weather monitoring and batteries could be used to further enhance grid serving behaviour in changing conditions.

Expected Results

A combined AWE design, operation and electrical power production model. A range of design and operational strategies to achieve a range of grid serving behaviours. Strategies to achieve robust operation in the presence of changing weather conditions.

Supervisory team

Claudio Vergara is main supervisor, Roland Schmehl is academic supervisor. Johannes Peschel and Sweder Reuchlin are additional industry supervisors,

Planned secondment

Munich University of Applied Sciences (M21-M25) to learn about grid faults and how power injection impacts grid stability, supervised by Stephanie Uhrig.