Fraunhofer IWES and ABB plan mobile grid simulator to support wind energy deployment

Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) is collaborating with ABB to develop the world’s largest mobile grid simulator as part of a project funded by the German federal ministry of economic affairs and climate action. 

The simulator will be used for testing the safety and reliability of renewable energy equipment, including wind turbines, in real-world conditions. Thanks to its size, the simulator can be used to test the newest, large offshore wind turbines that are currently being deployed worldwide.

The test programme is due to verify that a wind farm connecting to a public power network is fully compliant with local grid codes and will not compromise grid performance and stability.

“We need to ensure that power grids maintain total stability and performance while integrating ever increasing amounts of intermittent renewables like wind and solar,” said Gesa Quistorf, group manager of power electronics and grid integration at Fraunhofer IWES. 

“Our new mobile grid simulator will play a vital role in accelerating this programme, as we will be able to provide compliance testing for the ever-increasing number of large offshore turbines that are pushing current test facilities to their limits.”

The mobile grid simulator will use the ACS6080 Power Electronics Grid Simulator (PEGS) technology developed by technology company ABB to create an artificial power grid on site. 

Research and testing institute Fraunhofer IWES, which specialises in wind energy and energy system technology, will use the system to simulate different grid operating modes, including fault conditions, as well as validating compliance with all standards.

News of Fraunhofer IWES commissioning a test bench for grid compatibility first emerged in September 2020. 

The simulator’s flexible and modular structure allows for almost unlimited configuration potential in testing applications. Additionally, the mobile simulator will play an important role in research and development.

“As part of our drive towards a low-carbon society, increasing the availability of renewable energy equipment for use within the power grid is key,” said Chris Poynter, division president at ABB System Drives. 

“We also need to establish how to operate this equipment as safely, reliably and of course, energy efficiently as possible – this is where the extensive testing capabilities of the mobile grid simulator will add huge value,” he added.

When it commences operation in 2023, the mobile grid simulator will be the largest of its kind in the world. It will have a power rating of up to 28 megavolt ampere (MVA) and a short time capability of up to 80MVA. For additional flexibility, it will also be able to operate as two independent units of 14MVA.