Grand challenges of Wind Energy Science – Meeting the needs and services of the power system

The share of wind power in power systems is increasing dramatically and this is happening in parallel with increased penetration of solar photovoltaics, storage, other inverter-based technologies, and electrification of other sectors. Integrating all these technologies in a cost-effective manner while maintaining (or improving) power system reliability is challenging and is driving radical changes to planning and operations paradigms. Wind power can maximise its long-term value to the power system by balancing the needs it imposes on the power system with its contribution to addressing these needs with services. Research in wind power should be guided by this balanced approach and by concentrating on its advantages over competitors. The research challenges within the wind technology itself are many and varied with control and coordination internally being a focal point in parallel with a strong need for coordination with research in other technologies such as storage, power electronics and power systems that together are fundamental and potentially profound. This is all driven by the unchanging nature of the fundamental objective of power systems – maintaining supply demand balance reliably at least cost.