References

In the joint project "GEOWISOL2 - Analysis of the geographic distribution of wind and solar feed-in and their influences on the power grid", Deutsche WindGuard primarily compiles data analyses and various expansion scenarios. Due to natural fluctuation of renewable energies such as wind and solar power, the dynamic load on the German power grid increases with their share of power generation.

In order to create precise local and time-resolved knowledge of feed-in and demand quantities, a database was developed as part of the preceding project GEOWISOL, which provides these as 15-minute averages and with a local resolution in the 2-digit postal code range nationwide.

The goal of the follow-up project GEOWISOL2 is to expand the database to include feed-in data from additional energy sources (e.g. offshore wind energy, biogas, hydropower and conventional power plants) and stationary storage facilities, as well as to map optimized energy distribution between regions on real power lines available in the grid. Based on this, transmission volumes in the current development status as well as for future expansion scenarios will be analyzed and evaluated over time. In particular, the integration of offshore wind energy will be taken into account. The tool created will be used for local evaluation of future energy transition infrastructure projects (e.g. sector coupling, grid expansion, energy storage, etc.).

The sub-project 'Data Analysis and Expansion Scenarios' deals with the acquisition of newer and more comprehensive data sets for the feed-in from wind turbines and photovoltaic systems as well as the improvement of the data basis of electricity consumption. Particularly standardized data offered by the Association of European Transmission Grid Operators (ENTSO-E) is used for this purpose.Correlation studies regarding the temporal and geographic relationship of the feed-ins to each other as well as the question of regional correspondence of generation and consumption will be carried out.  The results of these investigations will be used as a basis for the development of expansion scenarios.

In the joint project "WindIO - Concept and setup of a cyber-physical system for the holistic development of wind turbines", Deutsche WindGuard is involved in a sub-project dealing with the application analysis and operational management strategies for the use of a digital twin of a wind turbine (WT).

The goal of WindIO is to build a cyber-physical system based on a digital twin of the research wind turbine currently in operation in Bremen, to create standardized interfaces for holistic configuration management and thus to generate a development tool for the further wind energy technology development.

By continuously feeding in real, but also already interlinked, virtual sensor data from ongoing operation and the real ambient, wind and weather data in real time, the aim is to ensure the recording of a precise actual state of the turbine and its components. A reciprocal data flow results in a continuous alignment between physical and virtual WT, so that both systems can be equally enhanced, thereby significantly increasing the accuracy of forecasts and the informative value of simulations.

Wind energy is an important pillar for achieving the energy transition in Germany. Electricity production costs are still high in relation to the market remuneration, so that there is a need for development in this field. Against this background, the end-of-life topic of wind turbines (WT) 'i.e. the analysis and design of the time after the end of support under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) respectively after design lifetime expiry' is currently of particular interest.

In order to develop technically and economically sustainable strategies for post-EEG WTGs, a joint and at least unilaterally coupled consideration of diverse aspects of structural dynamics, process technology, logistics, spatial planning and economics is indispensable. For example, it only makes sense to analyze the economic feasibility of continued operation through retrofitting if this is also technically feasible.

Therefore, in the joint project "TransWind - Transdisciplinary End-of-Life Analysis of Wind Turbines for the Development of Techno-Economically Optimal Retrofit Strategies; Subproject: Cost models for wind turbine end-of-life strategies", a probabilistic, structural-dynamic model of a wind turbine will be combined with site-specific wind simulations, spatial planning tools and economic analyses in an interlinked modeling approach.

To enable the automated application of this transdisciplinary approach, the modeling will also be implemented in a software solution, thereby taking advantage of the increasing digitalization in the energy industry. Deutsche WindGuard focuses on the development of cost models for the transdisciplinary end-of-life analysis of wind turbines as well as the evaluation and validation of the lifetime modeling and end-of-life concepts.