A Review of Power Electronics Applications for Wind Energy Systems in Microgrids

Abstract

Wind energy conversion systems continue to show promises as energy source of the future. To champion the supply for future industrial and domestic energy demand, it is imperative to improve on their reliability, energy extraction efficiency and security as these factors would enormously affect their viability and deployment. This paper presents an overview of the applications of power electronics to speed control of generators in wind energy conversion systems. Wind energy conversion system, the basis on which they are classified and their various components are concisely reviewed. Further, an up-to-date highlight of wind turbines speed control schemes is presented with focus on the roles of power electronics in these schemes. Concluding, necessary technological and economic development to aid applications of power electronics devices in emerging wind energy systems and their significance to the microgrid is understudied.