Fujian, China - December 26, 2023 – The National Offshore Wind Power Research and Testing Base in Fuqing City, Fujian Province, China has officially commenced operations with its full-scale ground testing platform designed for a 25MW offshore wind turbine. Hopewind has played a pivotal role in this initiative by successfully completing the installation and commissioning of a 34MVA variable frequency drive and a 90MVA ultra-large capacity grid simulator. This platform is a crucial component of the research base, which also features a 150-meter blade testing facility and a test wind farm, positioning it as the  ground transmission chain platform in China capable of supporting the world’s largest capacity wind turbines and the longest wind turbine blades for reliable testing and validation.

Throughout the construction of this testing platform, Hopewind provided essential grid simulator and variable frequency drive equipment. The grid simulator utilizes a multi-level cascading topology based on IGCT devices, achieving an impressive output capacity of 90MVA. This innovative solution addresses technical challenges associated with complex grid fault dynamic simulations and grid impedance quantification compensation, effectively simulating a variety of grid connection environments and fault disturbance conditions under different output modes of offshore wind power systems. The successful application of this grid simulator sets a world record for single-unit capacity of grid simulators and marks a significant breakthrough for Hopewind in the renewable energy sector.

The variable frequency drive, employed to adjust motor speed and simulate wind conditions, incorporates two sets of Hopewind’s proprietary HD8000 series medium voltage engineering variable frequency drives along with associated equipment. This modular design features dual-sided pressed IGCT and diode power devices, ensuring exceptional reliability, superior heat dissipation, and a compact footprint, with a maximum single-unit capacity of 34MVA and support for up to eight parallel units. In this project, the HD8000 series variable frequency drive operates at a rated output voltage of 3300V and a rated power of 17MVA, fully satisfying the testing platform's requirements for variable speed drive systems.

This platform is capable of conducting comprehensive ground tests of wind turbines, including six-degree-of-freedom loading, ultra-large capacity complex grid simulation, dual-axis high-frequency loading tests for super-long blades, and various scientific research applications. The technical equipment has been recognized by China’s General Affairs Department of the National Energy Administration as part of the Fourth Batch of Major Technological Equipment in Energy Sector. The transmission chain platform at the National Offshore Wind Power Research and Testing Base aims to provide efficient and reliable technical support for grid connection tests of large-capacity offshore wind turbines through innovative and advanced technologies.

Hopewind's self-developed multi-functional grid simulator can accurately replicate three-phase three-wire grid systems across various voltages and frequencies, along with their dynamic disturbance characteristics. It also realistically emulates diverse grid fault characteristics, including high and low voltage faults. This versatile device is widely applicable for grid adaptability testing, power quality assessment, primary frequency modulation testing, and fault voltage ride-through testing for wind power systems, photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, and static VAR generators (SVGs).

In China, Hopewind stands out as the first company to successfully develop large-capacity multi-functional grid simulators rated at 7.5MVA and above, achieving successful field testing applications across wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, and SVGs. Furthermore, it is the first to commercialize wide-band impedance measurement functionality, underscoring its commitment to innovation in the renewable energy industry.

About Hopewind

Shenzhen Hopewind Electric Co., Ltd.(Stock Code: 603063) focuses on the R&D, manufacturing, sales and services of renewable energy & electric drive products, including products for wind power generation, photovoltaic generation, energy storage, hydrogen production power supply products, power quality and electric drive. Furthermore, Hopewind owns integrated independent R&D and testing platforms of high-power power electrical equipment and monitoring systems.

In 2023, Hopewind’s wind power converter received the world's first grid-forming certificate issued by DNV.

In 2024, Hopewind has been recognized by Bloomberg New Energy Finance as a Tier 1 inverter maker.