Providing frequency droop control using variable speed wind turbines with augmented control

An augmentation to conventional wind turbine control is presented and its applicability for providing droop control services to the grid is investigated. Both the impact on the fatigue loads of the turbines and the change in energy capture when providing droop control are assessed. Three alternative strategies for providing droop control are simulated. The controller is found to be suitable for providing droop control. When providing droop control, the damage equivalent loads for the tower and for the blades change by between -0.63% and 0.14% and between -0.45% and 0.29% respectively. Energy capture is reduced by between 3.18% and 10.91% compared to normal operation, depending upon the strategy chosen to supply droop control, the wind turbine used and the wind speed distribution.