Life Cycle Assessment of Various PMSG-Based Drivetrain Concepts for 15 MW Offshore Wind Turbines Applications

Farid Khazaeli Moghadam () and Nils Desch
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Farid Khazaeli Moghadam: Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Nils Desch: Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: There are different configurations selected by both industry and academia as the drivetrain for wind turbines in the power range of 10 to 16 MW. The choice of drivetrain system influences the levelized cost of energy, and, as the turbines become larger, and, therefore, costlier, there is more potential for the optimization of cost critical systems, like the drivetrain. The latter motivates the utilization of a life cycle assessment approach to profoundly influence the choice of drivetrain technology such that it offers a better compromise between the different aspects in the drivetrain life cycle. To this end, in this paper, various permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based drivetrain technologies for 15 MW bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind turbine applications are designed and compared. The technologies under investigation are based on direct-drive, medium- and high-speed generators. The conceptual design of the drivetrain for the three technologies under consideration is investigated and the pros and cons of each technology are assessed and explained by looking, simultaneously, into the design, manufacturing, operation and maintenance.

Keywords: drivetrain; dynamic analysis; gearbox; life cycle assessment; offshore wind turbine; optimization; permanent magnet synchronous generator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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