10 Enabling the Digital and Energy transition Wind turbines are moving further out to sea, and more floating wind farms are planned, which means power needs to travel further to the shore. Connecting large amounts of offshore wind energy to - often outdated - grids poses a huge challenge. Integrating offshore wind energy into the power system requires expansion and upgrades. Let’s examine some key challenges and developments. One major challenge is dealing with Power Quality issues. Wind turbine switching and large variations in generation and consumption of energy can result in significant voltage fluctuations. When turbines are commissioned, voltage fluctuations in the distribution network must be kept within certain limits. IEC 6140021 - the international standard for measurement and assessment of grid-connected wind turbines - recommends load-flow studies to assess the influence of wind turbines on steady-state voltages. IEC 61400-21 also defines power quality characteristics for wind turbines and suggests methods to assess the impact of wind turbines on grid power quality. Furthermore, the required converters and long cables introduce phenomena such as harmonic distortion and power losses. The new technologies and power electronics used are also often sensitive to voltage disturbances. POWER GRID DEVELOPMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE OFFSHOREWIND As offshore wind’s contribution to the energymix grows, getting maximumpower from turbines to shore is becoming increasingly important.
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