Title: Wind power technology development, transfer and commercialisation, along with construction of a wind turbine test site in Korea

Authors: S.H. Kim, C.-W. Lee, N. Yoo, Y. Nam, S. Kang, B. Kim, J. Lee, K. Kim

Addresses: Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA. ' Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Division of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea. ' Division of Electrical, Electronic, Information and Communication Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chooncheon, Kangwon-do, Korea

Abstract: This paper introduces the current status of wind power generation industry in Korea and the renewable wind energy policies of the Korean Government. The ||Daekwanryung Wind Turbine Performance Test Project|| is to establish the first wind turbine test site at Daekwanryung. This two million dollar project has been funded for three years by the Korean government and a participating company. The performance and the stability of foreign wind turbines have been tested to obtain useful information for the maintenance, operation of the wind power test site and environmental issues. For the commercialisation of the wind power technology, it is absolutely necessary to examine comprehensively the adaptability of the wind turbines under the mountain environments of Korea. System compatibility, stability and technical and administrational problems in supplying the electricity to the existing power grid are examined. There were unexpected administrative restrictions and technological troubles during the initial stage of the project. The developed and transferred wind power technologies are described in this paper. The goals of the study are to provide the government with valuable information for the wind energy policies and to assist the participating company to develop wind power generation systems. This paper also describes the critical issues to be considered in transferring the foreign wind energy technologies to the establishment of commercial wind power plants in Korea.

Keywords: wind power industry; Korea; Daegwanryung; wind turbine test site; wind power performance testing; wind energy; wind power generation; technology commercialisation; wind turbines; mountain environments; electricity supply; technology transfer; wind energy policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2005.006374

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2005 Vol.4 No.3, pp.360 - 385

Published online: 24 Feb 2005 *

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