Renewable power generation technologies will provide circa 40% of the world’s energy requirements by 2040, and they will continue to require transformers in their electrical networks. Energy generated from solar and wind power conversion sources will represent the fastest growing renewable sector.

Our experience in the specifics of renewable transformer application designs extends back over 20 years. Transformers utilised in either PV solar or Wind Turbine applications require different design parameters when compared to traditional liquid distribution transformer design principles.

ETS fully understands the unique and differing cyclic loading demand characteristics applied to the transformer from these applications and the internal forces they need to endure as part of a critical network connected to solar and/or wind generation energy harvesting systems. Our experience and designs counter any negative impact to overall performance, reliability and life expectancy of the transformers

The ETS Group offers Renewable Energy Generation operators total security in designing and manufacturing fit-for-purpose quality transformers to deliver network resilience and reliability ensuring daily generation hours are fully maximised without any non-productive blackout periods.

Wind Turbine Transformers

Due to advances in insulation material technologies utilised in the construction of transformers, we are able to develop a transformer design with an overall smaller footprint and a reduced width dimension to facilitate their installation inside the turbine nacelle. The combination of high temperature withstand insulation media and high-performance synthetic ester dielectric fluid allows higher internal transformer temperature operation, but without causing any premature thermal aging in the insulation materials.

PV Solar Transformers

PV Solar power applications experience steady-state loading during inverter operation, and during sunlight hours there is a dampened reaction process and more constant loading on the transformer. Transformers experience their highest load during the peak sunlight and temperature hours which can have a significant impact on the internal temperature of the transformer and therefore the reliability and life span of the asset.

Large invertors utilised in PV Solar energy harvesting induce significant amounts of harmonics which cause additional losses in the transformer, these harmonics require to be dissipated through filtration to ensure they do not enter the electrical network. Solar generation farms that utilise multiple invertors require separate multiple secondary core windings to connect multiple inputs.

Ester Dielectric Fluid        

To fully subscribe to the environmental and eco-friendly credentials supporting renewable energy power generation, we recommend optimised transformers designs using ester-based dielectric insulation fluids (natural or synthetic). Both Ester dielectric fluids are extensively proven in transformer applications and are Fire Safe K-Class Rated, Fully Biodegradable, Sustainable and Pose no threat to the environment.

Design Features:

• optimised loads
• extended asset life expectancy
• efficiencies
• low cost of ownership
• low no-load losses (non-daylight hours)
• ≤33kV voltage ratings

Applications:

• multiple inverters
• battery energy storage systems
• high temperature & performance
• load cycle capability
• fixed efficiency loads

We also offer traditional mineral oil dielectric fluids for PV Solar transformer cooling but this not recommended for Wind Turbine applications.