This thesis tries to determine and analyse from a technical perspective the maximum penetration of wind energy capable in the existing electricity grid in the remote island of Crete in Greece. In chapter 2 the main issues for the development of Renewable Energy Sources and especially Wind Energy in Greece and Crete are reported. The electrical system in Greece is being described as well as the Cretan one, highlighting the major differences between these two systems and pointing out the special characteristics of the Cretan autonomous electric grid.
Chapter 3 describes the technical aspects concerning wind turbines and the considerations that should be taken for the development of wind farms, especially in autonomous electric grids. The special characteristics of the wind turbines as electric machines and the resulting power transmission to the electric grid are described. Ultimately the impacts that wind turbines cause when connected to the electric grid are highlighted.
In Chapter 4 the background and theory of the power flow analysis that was used to determine the penetration level of wind energy in Crete is introduced. The analysis program used within the Matlab software environment is described, pointing out the two main solver methods that were used, in order to evaluate the penetration level of wind energy in Crete.
The whole methodology, the data preparation and the results from the power flow analyses are presented in chapter 5. The main impact that the connection of power plants and especially wind farms have to the electric grid of Crete are also presented.
Finally in chapter 6, the conclusions from the whole analysis are made and a determination of the maximum wind penetration within the existing Cretan electricity grid is stated. Solutions to problems that the development of such systems causes to the Cretan electric grid, are also given.