Zagres has developed new design and fabrication techniques for Ultra-High Voltage Silicon Carbide (UHV SiC) Thyristor technology which enables substantial reduction in manufactuing costs, as much as 40%, and operation at voltage and frequency ratings which have never utilised before in the industry. The technology, proven on laboratory prototypes, promises applications in several high-power systems, such as renewable energy generation, High Voltage DC (HVDC) systems and Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS). The key benefits include reduction in cost of energy and enhancement in efficiency and reliability.
The aim of this project is to assess the feasibility of the UHV SiC Thyristor technology for wind turbine applications and quantify their benefits with respect to cost of energy, reliability and efficiency. A prototype 20 kW converter will be built and then tested on a real wind turbine for a three-month period. In addition, models will be developed to evaluate the advantages of UHV SiC Thyristor converters for multi-MW wind turbines.