Impact of Fluctuating Wind Power Injection on the Control and Thermodynamical Operation Behavior of Conventional Power Plants in Germany, Part II - Effects of Large Wind Power Injections on the Future Power Plant Portfolio and the Resulting Day-operation

Project Number 333

In the previous project No. 283 the cohesions between the rising wind power injection and the operation of the power plants have been modelled successfully. Furthermore fundamental conclusions have been made, how to enable marketability at an increased wind integration level, for example:

  • Reduction of the minimum load,
  • Increase of the load change rate,
  • Complete control capabilities in partial load with an as low as possible efficiency reduction.

The investigation yielded the fact, that existing plants are only limited feasible for the implementation in the future changed scenarios. Additionally the limits of the wind integration ability and the demand for "large storage devices" has been pointed out. 

The research activities of the Rostock University complete the investigations of the Dena-studies and establish a precise relationship to the operation and the design process of power plants.

With continuing the research project in a part II the developed models should be applied on different scenarios and should be advanced appropriately. Thus, reliable quantitative conclusions for the different power plant types and concepts could be named. This affects the operation scenarios of the power plants (grade of utilization) as well as the impacts concerning material stress and fuel utilization. That incorporates also conclusions about the realizability of grid related critical injection scenarios (e.g. stability) and the listing of expected necessary new products for system services.

Moreover, the flexibilisation potential of the power plant portfolio and operation should be identified, which could contribute to an improved wind integration. But on the other hand the limitations of the wind integration ability should be specified precisely. Arrangements for the realization of the future higher dynamical demands have to be evaluated.

The project is being carried out from October 2009 until January 2012 by the following Institutes:

  • Institute of Electrical Power Engineering at the University of Rostock (Prof. Harald Weber, head of project)
  • Chair of Technical Thermodynamics at the University of Rostock (Prof. Egon Hassel).

The project is supported by the Technical Committee Electrical Engineering, I&C, and IT.