Integrated wind farm control
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050, and to achieve this goal wind energy technologies will need to unlock its full potential on low-cost reliable clean energy generation. Thus, the next generation of wind farms will need to be supported by an even more innovative set of physical and digital tools as well as operational controls, collectively called wind farm control. Generally, wind farm control refers to the coordination of different wind turbines within a wind farm to better the overall farm power production, and to reduce the structural loading among wind turbines [1] .
In this context, project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Development of open source data-driven tools to decrease energy costs on operation, while increasing total wind farm output, and a parallel evaluation of operational risks arising from the chosen solution, including e.g. limitations from machine learning (AI) and r esilience against third-party fraud, i.e. operational security .
- Development of digital and physical tools, as well as interoperable frameworks and controls, for enhanced data collection, analysis, and operation aimed at an improved performance at farm level.
- Allow operators to make better informed decisions on farm-wide system optimisation, lifetime extension, decommissioning and/or recycling of components.
- Contribute to LCOE reduction in line with the SET Plan targets (actions should clearly justify the estimated LCOE at project start and end). Scope :
The proposal is expected to address all the following aspects:
- Address and validate how digital innovation on wind farm control are able to provide more stable, resilient, secure, reliable and affordable energy, while retaining high levels of cybersecurity. Focus on farm output maximization is expected. Additionally, focus on reduced component load is strongly encouraged.
- Address how these data-driven innovations reduce operational and maintenance costs, increase energy output, and their impact on (component, turbine, farm) lifetime;
- Address the role of such innovations as a prognostic tool, regarding failures and damages:
- Develop and release an open source digital/AI solution for sector uptake. This tool is expected to be built from concrete experiments and data measurements. Further, it should account for the advent of large wind turbines (up to 20 MW) and include those in the development of this tool.
In order to optimise impact and enhance synergies, cooperation with projects from the HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-02-04 call is particularly encouraged.
The selected projects are expected to contribute and participate to the activities of the project BRIDGE [2] when relevant.
Specific Topic Conditions :
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
Cross-cutting Priorities :
Digital Agenda Artificial Intelligence Ocean sustainability and blue economy
[1] FarmConners. D1.5: Recommendations and best practices for testing and validation of wind farm control. 2020.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
3 . Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
In order to ensure a balanced portfolio, at least the highest ranking proposal addressing offshore wind farms and the highest ranking proposal addressing onshore wind farms will be funded, provided they attain all thresholds. This condition to ensure a balanced portfolio will also considered to be met if one project addressing both aspects is funded.
- Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or the exclusive licensing of results under certain conditions.
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual