An industry partnership between the University and Converteam aims to boost the efficiency of power transmission from offshore wind turbines
Winds of change
The University is working with energy equipment company Converteam on a partnership that has established an advanced technology centre at the University to undertake research on advanced high voltage direct current to direct current (HV DC-DC) power converters for offshore renewable energy systems.
As a major player in the energy
sector, Converteam has a presence in several markets, including power generation, marine, offshore oil and gas, and renewables.
The company was looking to expand its power converter technology activity through the development of an advanced HV DC-DC power converter to allow large offshore wind farms to feed into multi-terminal HVDC transmission networks. An offshore wind installation that generates and transmits DC to shore is potentially much more efficient and cost effective than one which is based on alternating current (AC). With a manufacturing plant already established in Glasgow, the company decided to open an advanced technology centre in Scotland, with assistance from Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise. Converteam visited Scottish universities, undertaking research in power generation to identify the best academic partner and location for a new centre.
Converteam was impressed with the research activity and facilities at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Energy Systems and, in particular, with Dr Markus Mueller and Dr Ewen Macpherson’s research expertise on rotating machines. As a result, Converteam chose to set up their new Scottish Advanced Technology Centre at the University of Edinburgh, on the King’s Buildings campus, close to the Institute for Energy Systems. The Converteam centre will undertake research with the aim of developing intellectual property linked to
“We’re delighted to establish our centre at the University of Edinburgh, which boasts world- class facilities and expertise”
Dr Ewen
Macpherson, left, and Dr Markus Mueller
its HV DC-DC converter technology. This will result in the creation of jobs at the centre, as well as funding for three PhD students to work on these projects. Through this engagement with Dr Mueller and his research team on the dedicated PhD projects, Converteam will gain valuable know-how and experience in the power electronics research areas and apply it to their HV DC-DC converter technology.
Converteam will also be able to access the power electronics research facilities at the Institute for Energy Systems and its academic partners. Dr Mueller said: “In setting up the centre at Edinburgh, and placing the company’s staff and the University PhD students in the same working environment, Converteam has made every effort to ensure a successful research collaboration.” Andy Bullock, Research & Technology Manager at Converteam, said: “We believe that a fully DC architecture will relieve the wind energy industry of many of the technological and economic constraints it faces today. “Our collaboration with the University will initially target the development of a DC power converter. This piece of equipment is a key enabler for realising the DC architecture objective; it is the fundamental component for the efficient export of DC power from each turbine tower. We’re delighted to establish our centre at the University of Edinburgh, which boasts world-class facilities and expertise.”
Building research capability and experience in power electronics through the Scottish Advanced Technology Centre will develop a potential stream of skilled postgraduates for employment in technology areas that are important for the company’s growth and prosperity. This could also bring benefits to the growing renewable energy markets in Scotland and the UK.
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