Posters

Abstract

State-of-the-art methodologies used to estimate a wind farm’s energy yield before commissioning typically rely on a simple assumption to account for electrical efficiency losses. These losses refer to the energy lost when transmitting electricity from the wind turbine generator to the meter located at the substation. This study aims to present a methodology that enables engineers to more accurately estimate this loss factor for each individual turbine. Specifically, the research investigates the loss of electrical efficiency caused by transmission from wind turbines to the substation—a factor influenced by transmission distance and overall system efficiency. Measurements were collected for over 250 turbine locations across 15 active wind power plants in Türkiye, including the distances from each turbine to its respective substation. Using SCADA data, energy losses were then calculated and analyzed in relation to the measured transmission distances, allowing the derivation of a loss-per-kilometer figure. Initial results show that greater transmission distances incur proportionally higher electrical losses, highlighting the importance of distance in overall wind farm performance. In addition, as the rated power of wind turbines increases, higher-capacity cables are required, which tend to offer greater efficiency and can mitigate some of these losses. This study provides a straightforward method for estimating site-specific electrical efficiency losses without needing detailed electrical infrastructure designs. Instead, the relationship between the distance from the turbine to the substation and the turbine’s rated power is sufficient to reliably estimate the loss factor for energy yield assessment studies.