Lightning Surges on Wind Power Systems: Study of Electromagnetic Transients

The need to control climate changes and the increase in fossil-fuel costs stimulate the ever-growing use of renewable energies worldwide. Concerning renewable energies, wind power is a priority for Portugal's energy strategy. In Portugal, the wind power goal foreseen for 2010 was established by the government as 3750 MW and that will constitute some 25 % of the total installed capacity by 2010 [1]. This value has recently been raised to 5100 MW, by the most recent governmental goals for the wind sector. Hence, Portugal has one of the most ambitious goals in terms of wind power, and in 2006 was the second country in Europe with the highest wind power growth. As wind power generation undergoes rapid growth