[en] A vital problem encountered in Greek islands within the Aegean Archipelago is insufficient electricity generation. Wind generated electricity appears to be a fiscally viable solution, as the area has excellent wind potential. Yet despite the technological improvement, the penetration of substantial wind power to autonomous electrical grids is still limited, mainly due to existing technical barriers. One of the most interesting autonomous electrical network cases is the island of Crete. Here, with an excellent wind potential, about 180 wind turbines of 120 MW total installed rated-capacity are in operation or under construction. However, even in this relatively strong electrical system, grid instability and mismatching of supply and demand have led to significant wind energy rejection. This 'spilt' wind power corresponds to an annual financial loss of income of 30,000 E per MW of wind power installed. The present study seeks an integrated methodology with pumped-hydro storage for maximizing the contribution of wind energy in the Crete electricity supply. In addition, the objective is to improve grid stability. An analysis of the wind-hydro electricity production cost is presented and compared with the corresponding operational cost of the existing thermal power plants. (Author)

[en] Community annoyance due to noise from wind turbines is often the result of noise character rather than level. Although the overall contributions from each of the two main classes of noise source, namely aerodynamic and mechanical, are often of a similar order for an untreated turbine, it is usually the mechanical sources which provide the dominant noise characteristics that may lead to annoyance. In this paper, the sources of mechanical noise are identified primarily with reference to HAWTs and then attention is concentrated on the rotor-shaft step-up gearbox, which is normally the top-ranking source. The major gearbox noise mechanisms and transmission paths are discussed and reference made to Noise Specifications and procedures applicable to the gearbox prior to its installation. The reduction of machinery noise is reviewed both at source and by treatment of transmission paths. (author)

[en] One of the characteristics of wind energy, from the grid point of view, is its non-dispatchability, i.e. generation cannot be ordered, hence integration in electrical networks may be difficult. Short-term wind power prediction-tools could make this integration easier, either by their use by the grid System Operator, or by promoting the participation of wind farms in the electricity markets and using prediction tools to make their bids in the market. In this paper, the importance of a short-term wind power-prediction tool for the participation of wind energy systems in electricity markets is studied. Simulations, according to the current Spanish market rules, have been performed to the production of different wind farms, with different degrees of accuracy in the prediction tool. It may be concluded that income from participation in electricity markets is increased using a short-term wind power prediction-tool of average accuracy. This both marginally increases income and also reduces the impact on system operation with the improved forecasts. (author)

[en] The main aim of this paper is to investigate the market penetration and share of different wind turbine concepts during the years 1998-2002, a period when the increase in the wind power capacity is starting to mark an abrupt evolution (more than two GW per year). A detailed overview is performed based on suppliers market data and concept evaluation for each individual wind turbine type sold by the Top Ten suppliers over the selected five years. The investigation is processing information on a total number of approximately 90 wind turbine types from 13 different manufacturers, which have been on the Top Ten list of wind turbine suppliers during 1998 to 2002. The analysis is based on very comprehensive data, which cover approximately 76% of the accumulated world wind power installed at the end of 2002. The paper also provides an overall perspective on the contemporary wind turbine concepts, classified with respect to both their speed control ability and to their power control type. Trends for wind turbine concepts are discussed. (Author)

[en] It is anticipated that there will be a substantial growth in the exploitation of renewable energy from the wind over the next few years. A major factor in this expected growth is the environmental acceptance or otherwise of wind turbines and in particular their acoustic characteristics. It is generally accepted within the turbine community that reliable methods of measuring and quantifying a turbine's acoustic signature are essential if this exploitation is to be realised. This paper will seek to review current practice both in the UK and further afield and will describe the development of a practical and reliable test method, which will aid the wind turbine Manufacturer, Developer and Planner. (author)

[en] Any agency proposing to connect a windfarm to the power grid must first arrange a power purchase contract involving a power purchase price (PPP). This paper reviews methods of determining the initial PPP and of establishing the mechanism for subsequent annual PPP reviews, both as two separate functions and as combined elements in an optimisation procedure. Various strategies for dealing with the PPP and its annual review are discussed. (Author)

[en] This paper, which extols the virtues of wind power, claims that investment is showing that wind power is now a recognised component of electric power generation in the USA. Globally, installations of wind energy generating capacity exceeded those of nuclear for a second consecutive year; figures are given. The market drivers and financial incentives for encouragement of wind power are itemised. A list of environmental and economic benefits of wind energy is shown

[en] The paper presents and verifies a method to calculate the flicker emission levels from wind turbines connected to power distribution systems. The idea of the method is to measure the flicker emission level from a wind turbine with reference conditions and to use these measurements to calculate a flicker coefficient for that specific wind turbine type. This can be done as a part of the approval of a wind turbine type. The flicker coefficient can then be used to calculate the flicker emission level from any wind turbine of that type with any grid and wind conditions. A simple method to determine the total flicker emission level from a number of wind turbines is also presented and verified. The flicker coefficient method is applied to 4 Danish wind turbine types representing stall and pitch control and nominal power from 300 kW to 500 kW. The conclusion is that the flicker emission in certain cases exceeds limits which are expected to be normative in the future. (author)

[en] The main aim of this paper is to investigate the market penetration and share of different wind turbine concepts during the years 1998-2002, a period when the increase in the wind power capacity is starting to mark an abrupt evolution (more than two GW per year). A detailed overview is performed based on suppliers market data and concept evaluation for each individual wind turbine type sold by the Top Ten suppliers over the selected five years. The investigation is processing information on a total number of approximately 90 wind turbine types from 13 different manufacturers, which have been on the Top Ten list of wind turbine suppliers during 1998 to 2002. The analysis is based on very comprehensive data, which cover approximately 76% of the accumulated world wind power installed at the end of 2002. The paper also provides an overall perspective on the contemporary wind turbine concepts, classified with respect to both their speed control ability and to their power control type. Trends for wind turbine concepts are discussed. (author)

[en] An examination is offered of the statutory basis for the control of noise emissions. Principal pieces of legislation and some advisory notes have been produced within appendices. The paper briefly examines the controls in other EC countries before discussing the way in which planning controls relate to the jurisdiction of the court. (author)