High Power Electronics - Key Technology for Wind Turbines

In this chapter the developments of technology and market trends in wind power application are discussed. Different wind turbine concepts as well as some dominant and promising power converter solutions are reviewed respectively. Furthermore the control methods, grid demands as well as the emerging reliability challenges for the future wind turbines are explained. It is concluded that the wind turbine behavior/performance can be significantly improved by introducing power electronics, and there will be higher requirements for the power electronics performances in wind power application.