Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has hired GE Energy Power Conversion UK to supply a grid emulation system that will be used for the testing of wind and marine renewable energy devices.
Under the contract, GE Energy Power Conversion UK will provide ORE Catapult with a fully containerized grid emulation system, and associated cabling for the test facility at Blyth, UK, according to the Welsh government’s procurement portal, Sell2Wales.
The grid emulation system will allow ORE Catapult to conduct electrical power quality test, with the possibility of accelerated validation of wind and marine renewable energy devices in a controlled environment.
This is expected to reduce time to market, improve reliability and mitigate the risks associated with deployment of these devices, according to ORE Catapult.
The emulation system will be used in the 15MW wind turbine nacelle/powertrain test facility, and 3MW marine nacelle/powertrain test facility.
ORE Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK government as its flagship technology innovation and research center for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy.
GE’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to serve specialized sectors such as energy, marine, industry and all related services.