Wind farms - both onshore and offshore - are crucial for the transition to a sustainable future. Transformers are too. Without transformers, the energy generated from wind cannot be efficiently fed into the grid and from there to households and industries. Find out more about different types of transformers, why wind farms are also "transformer parks" and what transformer oils do for transformers.
The electricity generated by wind turbines usually has a low voltage. This is not suitable for transport over long distances or for feeding into the high-voltage grid. This is where transformers come into play: transformers are essential components in both onshore and offshore wind farms.
Transformers are used for all wind turbines to raise the voltage of the electricity generated by the wind turbines to a higher level. This step-up process minimises energy losses and ensures that the electricity can be fed into the main electricity grid, where it is ultimately distributed to end consumers.
Different types of transformers are used in wind farms, each of which is suitable for different requirements and operating sizes.
Common transformer types are:
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Transformers are constantly being improved. Modern transformers are designed to minimise energy losses by using advanced materials. Thanks to innovative design and concepts, fewer raw materials are also required, saving on copper, metal and transformer oil, for example.
The insulating oils contained in transformers are often recycled and reclaimed in order to save costs and be even more sustainable. In addition, transformers equipped with sensors and monitoring systems can now continuously provide real-time data on performance and potential problems and store it in databases.
Proactive maintenance of transformers for wind farms ensures smooth energy transmission
Regular maintenance and monitoring - especially of older transformers - ensure the longevity of transformers and their insulating oils. Maintenance work also reduces unexpected downtimes and the associated significant energy and financial losses.
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Why is regular maintenance recommended? The transformer oil or insulating oil in transformers deteriorates over the course of their service life and can lead to a drop in performance, damage or failures. There are various ways to counteract this and maintain the quality of the transformer oil. Find out how you can prevent transformer failures:
Insulating oils are real all-rounders - they insulate, cool, lubricate, are stable and have excellent dielectric properties. To maintain and regularly check these properties, maintenance companies specialising in transformer oils services are available. They help operators to extend the service life of their transformers by checking the quality and condition of the transformer oil with a simple insulating oil test. Find out more about the properties of transformer oils in this blog article: |
Onshore wind farms:
In onshore wind farms, the electricity generated by the turbines is first collected at low voltage. It is then brought to a higher voltage by transformers and fed to a central transformer station. From the substation, the electricity is fed into the grid via high-voltage lines.
Transformers for onshore wind farms are usually located near the base of each turbine or at a central point in the wind farm. They need to be robust and resilient to withstand varying environmental conditions, including temperature fluctuations and potential exposure to natural elements.
Read more:
Transformer oil management at all grid levels of the power supply
Offshore wind farms:
Offshore wind farms pose particular challenges due to their location at sea. Transformers in these installations must take up minimal space and be designed to withstand harsh marine conditions such as salt water corrosion, strong winds and significant temperature fluctuations.
Offshore wind turbines often utilise specially designed transformers or are integrated into floating platforms. The electricity generated is transformed into a different voltage and transmitted via submarine cables to onshore substations, where it is translated if necessary before being fed into the main grid.
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Transformers for wind farms - whether onshore or offshore - are indispensable for their operation. They play a crucial role in the efficient conversion and transmission of electricity. Transformer maintenance has a direct impact on the performance and reliability of wind energy systems. As the generation of wind energy continues to expand, the importance of transformers for wind farms for a sustainable, renewable energy supply cannot be overstated.
Here you will find an overview of all blog articles on the topic of transformer maintenance: