Energy Cost Estimation of Small Wind Power Systems—An Integrated Approach

Abstract

Small wind power systems (SWPSs) of 100kW or below are critical in addressing increasing global energy consumption and pressing greenhouse gas emission issues. Energy cost, i.e. cost of generating one kWh or MWh of electricity is an important consideration for design, development and operation of SWPSs. Various methods for energy cost estimation have been reported, but they typically consider only some aspects of the wind power systems. This paper presents a novel energy cost evaluation methodology for SWPSs, integrating wind turbine energy production, system component efficiency, cost, and reliability together into a single comprehensive model. Monte-Carlo simulation is applied to produce random functional intervals or failure intervals, taking into account the statistical nature of reliability. As compared with previous methods with segregated and deterministic approaches, the new method comprehensively analyzes the energy costs of SWPSs through an integrated and stochastic approach. The proposed methodology is applied to studies of various SWPS configurations at a typical 30kW level for both fixed-speed and variable-speed operations. The simulation results present an overview of the investment required for an SWPS over its installed lifetime, reveal cost effectiveness of different configuration options, and provide a benchmark for energy cost evaluation of wind power systems.

Condition monitoring of wind turbine pitch controller: A maintenance approach

“…According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA), a medium WT generates between one and 300 kilowatts (kW). If WT generates less than 100kW, some authors consider it a small system [7].…”

“…Although it is difficult to calculate the LCOE in Small WTs Due to advantages listed above, a methodology to estimate the LCOE for small and medium WT is presented [7] 1.4. Operation and maintenance (O&M) perspective…”

Development of a Control Unit for the Angle of Attack of a Vertically Axial Wind Turbine

“…Another option for power output control is the method of changing the angle of attack on the blades by changing the parameters of the wind wheel. This method involves the use of various mechanisms, where the automated control of the mechanical part of the wind generator is performed in accordance with the change in the value of the wind speed [10].…”