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Wave energy is an important renewable energy source. Previous studies of wave energy conversion (WEC) have focused on the maximum power take-off (PTO) techniques of a single machine. However, there is a lack of research on the energy and power quality of wave farm systems. Owing to the pulsating nature of ocean waves and popular PTO devices, the generated electrical power suffers from severe fluctuations. Existing solutions require extra energy storage and overrated power converters for wave power integration. In this study, we developed a master-slave wave farm system with rotor inertia energy storage; this system delivers self-smoothed power output to the grid and reduces the number of converters. Two control methods based on the moving average filter (MAF) and energy filter (EF) are proposed to smooth the output power of wave farms. RTDS simulations show that the proposed systems and control methods facilitate simple and smooth grid integration of wave energy. Keywords: Wave farm, Energy storage, Power smoothing, Power quality, Energy quality

A highly efficient nonlinear frequency-domain solution method is proposed and employed to investigate the aerodynamic and aeromechanical performances of an oscillating wind turbine blade aerofoil in this study. Extensive validations of a frequency-domain method against an experiment as well as a typical time-domain solution method are provided in this paper. An experiment is also designed and conducted to measure pressure distributions over an aerofoil as well as to validate the numerical model. Unsteady pressure distributions and aeroelasticity parameters of the oscillating NACA0012 aerofoil are computed at various angles of attack and Reynolds numbers. Results indicate that the difference of unsteady pressure distributions between the two surfaces of the aerofoil becomes larger as the angle of attack is increased, whereas the flow separation on the suction surface is reduced by raising the Reynolds number. The turbulent flow develops in the downstream region due to the laminar vortex shedding at lower Reynolds numbers. It is also revealed that the Reynolds number has an impact on the aeroelasticity, and the aerodynamic damping value is larger at higher Reynolds numbers. The comparison between the frequency-domain method and the time-domain method shows that the frequency-domain method is not only accurate but also computationally very efficient as the computation time is reduced by 90%.

LDPE and HDPE are common materials used within high voltage insulation systems. These materials will be aged after working under high voltage for a long time. The ageing process of these materials may be affected by external factors. The application of repetitive lightning impulse over-voltages is one of these factors and will be considered in this paper. This paper includes the sample preparation process, the ageing of samples under identical conditions and finally the analysis of electrical properties after the ageing process. The obtained results are used to compare the effect of repetitive lightning impulses with these two materials. These results are also used to highlight the possible mechanisms behind the lighting impulse ageing process.

Successful cap and trade programs for SO2 and NOx in the US allocate allowances to large emitters based on a historic base line for a period of up to thirty years. National Allocation Plans in Europe allocate CO2 allowances in an iterative approach first for a three then for a five-year period. The potential updating of the base line creates perverse incentives for operation and investment. Some allowances are also reserved for new entrants further distorting the scheme. We use analytic models and numeric simulations for the UK power sector to illustrate and quantify how these effects contribute to an inflation of the allowance price while reducing utilisation and investment in efficient technologies. The inflated allowance prices are likely to increase the European allowance budget and emissions, e.g. through the Linking Directive. As a result opportunity costs of emitting CO2 are reduced relative to an efficient cap and trade program.

Sustainable Development using renewable energy systems - Findings from the SDEWES 2019 International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, Vol. 29 (2020)

This paper reports on the long-term objectives and current research results of the on-going Renewable Energy to Africa (REAfrica) project. The purpose of the REAfrica project is to increase knowledge of renewable energy solutions and markets in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to support Finnish renewable energy sector companies in entering the African market. Entry into a new geographical area also involves entry into a new business culture. This paper considers the potential for collaboration and networking with local partners in both business and research as a means of fostering business innovation. To achieve this, it is proposed that research collaboration needs to evolve as ecosystem-level collaboration on three levels - business, research and governmental - in order to create a 'piloting gateway' for new technologies.

The paper presents the preliminary results of new physical tests carried out in the directional wave basin of Aalborg University (DK). The devices under exams are two floating 7 Degrees of Freedom Wave Activated Bodies moored with a spread system composed by 4 steel chains. The devices were subject to ordinary North Sea wave climate conditions and deployed in 1:60 scale. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of a Wave Energy Converter considering the interdependencies among energy production, loads on real moorings and device movements. The mooring effects on power production and on device movements are specifically investigated by varying the chain pre-tension level. Results suggest that the power production optimization is achieved with a slack mooring system providing a quasi-static response to the ordinary wave attacks