Consideration of a Variable Frequency Energy Conversion System for Marine and Onshore Wind Energy Extraction

Abstract

Wind energy is now well established as a viable means of generating electricity. It has good prospects of becoming increasingly competitive as volume production and improved technology further reduce capital costs and as its environmental advantages become more valued. Conversion devices used to recover energy from the wind are typically referred to as wind turbines or wind machines. Examination of the literature finds numerous wind turbine designs in use, depending upon the intended size and application. This paper discusses the concept of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based variable frequency energy conversion system (VFECS) for wind and potentially water energy extraction operations.