Estimation method for evaluating the wave-induced flicker level emitted by a tidal energy farm

Anne Blavette (1, 2) , Hamid Ben Ahmed (1, 2) , Bernard Multon (1, 2) , Lukas Morvan (3) , Alice Verschae (3) , Dara O 'Sullivan (4)

1 SATIE - Systèmes et Applications des Technologies de l'Information et de l'Energie
2 ENS Rennes - École normale supérieure - Rennes
3 Marine nationale
4 UCC - University College Cork

The inherently fluctuating nature of sea waves can be reflected to a significant extent in the power output of tidal turbines. However, these fluctuations can give rise to power quality issues such as flicker. Hence, it is important to assess the impact which tidal farms may have on their local network before such power plants are allowed to connect to the grid. This paper analyses under which sea-state and grid conditions a 30 MW rated tidal farm breaches the grid code requirements in terms of short-term flicker level. Then, it describes a simplified method for estimating the flicker level by means of an equivalent sinusoidally-modulated voltage profile.

Keywords: Tidal turbine; flicker; wave; impedance angle; device number; flicker; wave; impedance angle; device number

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]; Electric power

Anne Blavette, Hamid Ben Ahmed, Bernard Multon, Lukas Morvan, Alice Verschae, et al.. Estimation method for evaluating the wave-induced flicker level emitted by a tidal energy farm. 11th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference series (EWTEC) , Sep 2015, Nantes, France. ⟨hal-01313219⟩