Designing and deploying ethernet networks for offshore wind power applications - a case study

This paper discusses special considerations that shall be taken into account when designing and deploying Ethernet networks for wind power applications. It also contains description of practical experience from a real project of a big offshore wind farms recently built and about to be put into service in United Kingdom. The paper is organized into two parts. First part describes the characteristics of an environmentally robust Ethernet network for wind farm automation applications and identifies key issues and considerations when designing an Ethernet network. The second part provides the description of a real project of a big offshore wind farm composed of in excess of 140 of wind generators where an Ethernet network of more than 200 switches had been deployed. The authors describe challenges found in designing big network on a geographically extensive area.