
Offshore wind farming is a power generation method that make the best possible use of Japan's long coastline, and in recent years, initiatives are underway to harness wind power in a cost-effective manner (1). Power generated by an offshore wind farm must be transported to land efficiently and inexpensively. The use of a Solid State Transformer (SST) has been recommended, considering that smaller and lighter transformer equipment is necessary to keep costs low. Using a Modular Multi-Level Converter (MMC) could prove especially beneficial, since it is highly efficient, able to be mass produced at low cost, and is flexible enough to handle capacity increases (2). In this paper, we first describe the MMC being researched and developed at the Osaka Institute of Technology, and then show an example of its use in an experiment that was measured with the HBM/GEN series.
Osaka Institute of Technology is a private technical university located in Osaka, Japan. It was founded in 1922 and aims to "Develop specialists with science-based practical skills who play an important role in society." OIT offers different undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees in the fields of engineering, robotics and design, information science and technology, as well as intellectual property. Project-based practical learning, like this offshore wind farming system as an example for sustainable and efficient power generation, is what distinguishes Osaka Institute of Technology from other universities.