Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems

With the growing adoption of renewable energy, hybrid wind-solar plants are gaining interest because they allow the increase of energy yield per unit of surface area. However, the presence of wind turbines creates unique shading scenarios for the solar panels. This work presents a simulation-based a...

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Main Authors: Leander Van Cappellen, Martijn Deckers, Kristof Engelen, Georgi H. Yordanov, Michael Daenen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10925337/
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author Leander Van Cappellen
Martijn Deckers
Kristof Engelen
Georgi H. Yordanov
Michael Daenen
author_facet Leander Van Cappellen
Martijn Deckers
Kristof Engelen
Georgi H. Yordanov
Michael Daenen
author_sort Leander Van Cappellen
collection DOAJ
description With the growing adoption of renewable energy, hybrid wind-solar plants are gaining interest because they allow the increase of energy yield per unit of surface area. However, the presence of wind turbines creates unique shading scenarios for the solar panels. This work presents a simulation-based approach to investigate the solar plant’s energy yield and converter IGBT lifetime in the presence of dynamic and fast-moving shadows created by the wind turbine blades. First, the need for a dynamic simulation as opposed to a static one is examined. Next, the sensitivity of Photovoltaic (PV) string orientation, PV string location, wind direction, Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) control speed, and turbine rotor speeds on energy yield and IGBT lifetime are investigated in a case study. Results show that dynamic and static simulations can show vastly different results. MPPT can have difficulty with shadow flicker, resulting in different string voltages depending on the MPPT update speed and wind turbine rotor speed. The shadow flicker introduces additional temperature swings in the IGBT, but these are too small to add any significant lifetime consumption (<1.2%). Thus, the observed changes in lifetime consumption are caused mainly by controller behavior and static shadows. Finally, it is concluded that PV strings are better placed south, east, or west of the wind turbine for optimal energy yield and lifetime consumption. A northern placement can be suitable if there is a significant distance (+50 m) between the PV string and the wind turbine.
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spelling doaj-art-cbb981d197c04fa68290e0d4fd32958b2025-08-20T02:40:32ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113487464875710.1109/ACCESS.2025.354897610925337Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar SystemsLeander Van Cappellen0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7637-8697Martijn Deckers1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9652-7189Kristof Engelen2Georgi H. Yordanov3Michael Daenen4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9221-4932Institute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Hasselt University, Hasselt, BelgiumIMO-IMOMEC, Energy Ville, Genk, BelgiumIMO-IMOMEC, Energy Ville, Genk, BelgiumIMO-IMOMEC, Energy Ville, Genk, BelgiumInstitute for Materials Research (IMO-IMOMEC), Hasselt University, Hasselt, BelgiumWith the growing adoption of renewable energy, hybrid wind-solar plants are gaining interest because they allow the increase of energy yield per unit of surface area. However, the presence of wind turbines creates unique shading scenarios for the solar panels. This work presents a simulation-based approach to investigate the solar plant’s energy yield and converter IGBT lifetime in the presence of dynamic and fast-moving shadows created by the wind turbine blades. First, the need for a dynamic simulation as opposed to a static one is examined. Next, the sensitivity of Photovoltaic (PV) string orientation, PV string location, wind direction, Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) control speed, and turbine rotor speeds on energy yield and IGBT lifetime are investigated in a case study. Results show that dynamic and static simulations can show vastly different results. MPPT can have difficulty with shadow flicker, resulting in different string voltages depending on the MPPT update speed and wind turbine rotor speed. The shadow flicker introduces additional temperature swings in the IGBT, but these are too small to add any significant lifetime consumption (<1.2%). Thus, the observed changes in lifetime consumption are caused mainly by controller behavior and static shadows. Finally, it is concluded that PV strings are better placed south, east, or west of the wind turbine for optimal energy yield and lifetime consumption. A northern placement can be suitable if there is a significant distance (+50 m) between the PV string and the wind turbine.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10925337/Dc-dc power converterslifetime estimationsolar energysolar panelswind turbinesyield estimation
spellingShingle Leander Van Cappellen
Martijn Deckers
Kristof Engelen
Georgi H. Yordanov
Michael Daenen
Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
IEEE Access
Dc-dc power converters
lifetime estimation
solar energy
solar panels
wind turbines
yield estimation
title Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
title_full Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
title_fullStr Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
title_full_unstemmed Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
title_short Simulation-Based Investigation of Wind Turbine Induced Shadow Flicker on IGBT Reliability and Energy Yield in Solar Converters in Hybrid Wind-Solar Systems
title_sort simulation based investigation of wind turbine induced shadow flicker on igbt reliability and energy yield in solar converters in hybrid wind solar systems
topic Dc-dc power converters
lifetime estimation
solar energy
solar panels
wind turbines
yield estimation
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10925337/
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