Power electronics evolution in wind turbines—A market-based analysis

The aim of the paper is to analyse the evolution of wind turbine concepts or topologies with a specific focus on their power electronics content, and to demonstrate the tendency of wind turbine manufacturers towards the development of generators connected to the grid by means of power electronics converters. The paper provides a review of the power electronics converters used in wind turbines and a briefer description of the components that make up those converters. Then the research, supported by a market study based on 91% of the total installed wind capacity during the period 2000–2009, demonstrates the evolution of the wind turbine market towards the use of power electronics converters with their market share increasing from 38% in 2000 to 80% in 2009. In particular, the type D wind turbine configuration – containing a full power converter – appears set up to increase market share in the next five years. If projections of these findings are realised wind turbines without a power converter could be reduced to a niche market as soon as 2013. The paper refers these findings to, among other reasons, the increasingly more strict technical requirements of the grid operation codes. Finally, the paper details some of the current research and development trends plus a vision of the future by the industry.