The models are integrated with external smart-switched capacitor banks and AMSC controls that are optimised for wind farm applications.

AMSC expects to deliver the D-VAR modules within a year. The Collgar Wind Farm is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2010 and to be completed by the end of 2011.

“Australia was among the first countries to adopt dynamic voltage control requirements for wind farms connecting to the utility grid,” says Timothy Poor, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development at AMSC.

“We expect that additional countries around the world will adopt similar strict dynamic voltage control requirements to more effectively control power flows stemming from the utility-scale wind farms and solar power panels that are being installed around the world. This in turn will help expand our addressable market.”

D-VAR provides dynamic voltage control, power factor correction and post-contingency reactive compensation to stabilise the power grid and prevent undesirable events such as voltage collapse.

Wind turbine control system to India

AMSC will also supply a full wind turbine electrical control system worth over US$20 million for Ghodawat Energy Pvt Ltd (GEPL) of India.

AMSC will supply the wind turbine electrical control system from mid-2010 to 2013. The systems and core electrical components include AMSC’s PowerModule power converters, pitch and yaw convertors, SCADA systems and other power electronics.

“Pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and energy independence are growing global concerns that are helping to drive to adoption of clean, renewable power,” says Shrenik Ghodawat, Managing Director of GEPL.

“We are now beginning the production of wind turbines in India that are at the leading edge of technology to help meet this critical need. Our goal is to achieve 25% market share in India’s wind power market while also building our business in foreign markets.”

GEPL produces 1.65 MW double fed induction wind turbines designed and licensed from AMSC Windtec.