Wind energy technology has progressed enormously over the last decade. In coming years it will continue to develop in terms of power ratings, performance and installed capacity of large wind turbines worldwide, with exciting developments in offshore installations.Designed to meet the training needs of wind engineers, this introductory text puts wind energy in context, from the natural resource to the assessment of cost effectiveness and bridges the gap between theory and practice. The thorough coverage spans the scientific basics, practical implementations and the modern state of technology used in onshore and offshore wind farms for electricity generation.Key features:* provides in-depth treatment of all systems associated with wind energy, including the aerodynamic and structural aspects of blade design, the flow of energy and loads through the wind turbine, the electrical components and power electronics including control systems* explains the importance of wind resource assessment techniques, site evaluation and ecology with a focus of project planning and operation* describes the integration of wind farms into the electric grid and includes a whole chapter dedicated to offshore wind farms* includes questions in each chapter for readers to test their knowledgeWritten by experts with deep experience in research, teaching and industry, this text conveys the importance of wind energy in the international energy-policy debate, and offers clear insight into the subject for postgraduates and final year undergraduate students studying all aspects of wind engineering. Understanding Wind Power Systems is also an authoritative resource for engineers designing and developing wind energy systems, energy policy makers, environmentalists, and economists in the renewable energy sector.

Preface xiiiAbout the Authors xiv1 The History of Wind Energy 1Jos Beurskens1.1 Introduction 11.2 The First Windmills: 600-1890 21.3 Generation of Electricity using Wind Farms: Wind Turbines 1890-1930 101.4 The First Phase of Innovation: 1930-1960 161.5 The Second Phase of Innovation and Mass Production: 1960 to Today 25References 432 The International Development of Wind Energy 45Klaus Rave2.1 The Modern Energy Debate 452.2 The Reinvention of the Energy Market 482.3 The Importance of the Power Grid 502.4 The New Value-added Chain 532.5 International Perspectives 552.6 Expansion into Selected Countries 582.7 The Role of the EU 592.8 International Institutions and Organisations 612.9 Global Wind Energy Outlook 2012 - The Global View into the Future 652.10 Conclusion 71References 713 Wind Resources, Site Assessment and Ecology 73Hermann van Radecke3.1 Introduction 733.2 Wind Resources 733.3 Acoustics 1013.4 Shadow 1073.5 Turbulence 1093.6 Two Comprehensive Software Tools for Planning Wind Farms 1113.7 Technical Guidelines, Fgw Guidelines and IEC Standards 1123.8 Environmental Influences Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz (Federal Imission Control Act) and Approval Process 1133.9 Example Problems 1213.10 Solutions to the Problems 123References 1244 Aerodynamics and Blade Design 126Alois Schaffarczyk4.1 Summary 1264.2 Horizontal Plants 1264.3 Integral Momentum Theory 1304.4 Momentum Theory of the Blade Elements 1374.5 Vertical Plants 1424.6 Wind-Driven Vehicles with a Rotor 1514.7 Exercises 157References 1585 Rotor Blades 162Lothar Dannenberg5.1 Introduction 1625.2 Loads on Rotor Blades 1635.3 Vibrations and Buckling 1805.4 Finite Element Calculations 1845.5 Fibre-Reinforced Plastics 1875.6 Production of Rotor Blades 195References 2006 The Drive Train 202Sönke Siegfriedsen6.1 Introduction 2026.2 Blade Angle Adjustment Systems 2036.3 Wind Direction Tracking 2096.4 Drive Train Components 2156.5 Drive Train Concepts 2276.6 Damage and Causes of Damage 2406.7 Design of Drive Train Components 2416.8 Intellectual Property in the Wind Industry 246Further Reading 2517 Tower and Foundation 253Torsten Faber7.1 Introduction 2537.2 Guidelines and Standards 2557.3 Tower Loading 2557.4 Verification of the Structure 2587.5 Design Details 2617.6 Materials for Towers 2637.7 Model Types 2657.8 Foundations for Onshore WTs 2677.9 Exercises 2687.10 Solutions 269References 2728 Power Electronics and Generator Systems for Wind Turbines 273Friedrich W. Fuchs8.1 Introduction 2738.2 Single-Phase AC Voltage and Three-Phase AC Voltage Systems 2758.3 Transformer 2788.4 Generators for Wind Turbines 2838.5 Synchronous Machines 3038.6 Converter Systems for Wind Turbines 3108.7 Control of Variable-Speed Converter-Generator Systems 3188.8 Compliance with the Grid Connection Requirements 3298.9 Further Electronic Components 3318.10 Features of the Power Electronics Generator System in Overview 3328.11 Exercises 333References 3389 Control of Wind Energy Systems 340Reiner Johannes Schütt9.1 Fundamental Relationships 3419.2 WT Control Systems 3529.3 Operating Management Systems for WTs 3589.4 Wind Farm Control and Automation Systems 3639.5 Remote Control and Monitoring 3659.6 Communication Systems for WTS 366References 36810 Grid Integration 369Sven Wanser and Frank Ehlers10.1 Energy Supply Grids in Overview 36910.2 Grid Control 37210.3 Basic Terminology of Grid Integration of Wind Turbines 38010.4 Grid Connections for WTs 38710.5 Grid Connection of WTs 39710.6 Further Developments in Grid Integration and Outlook 401References 40511 Offshore Wind Energy 406Lothar Dannenberg11.1 Offshore Wind Turbines 40611.2 Currents and Loads 40911.3 Waves, Wave Loads 41311.4 Swell 43011.5 Scouring Formation, Growth, Corrosion and Ice 43711.6 Foundations for OWTs 44111.7 Soil Mechanics 450References 454Index 455