Wind Power LAB (WPL), a Denmark-based company, has introduced an advanced lightning monitoring tool aimed at mitigating damage to wind farms through early detection of potential risks. This tool, known as Lightning Analysis Service (LASSIE), promises to reduce repair costs by more than 40% by identifying problems earlier than expected thanks to its surveillance technology.
Early detection of lightning strikes in wind farms
In this context, lightning represents a growing risk for wind farm operations due to the severity of the damage it can cause. Statistics indicate that more than 60% of the meteorological accidents in these parks are caused by lightning. Particularly, modern carbon-reinforced blades are at greater risk of rapid and severe damage from these impacts.
Thus, early detection of lightning strikes allows owners and operators of wind farms to wind farm owners and operators efficiently use their resources for priority repairs. This preventive measure avoids significant increases in costs related to labor, unnecessary materials and possible catastrophic blade failures that are not detected in time.
LASSIE for the efficient management of wind farms
LASSIE, cloud-based and without the need for installation on the turbines, facilitates the proactive management of wind farms by prioritizing intervention in areas at high risk of lightning strikes. According to WPL, this translates into significant cost savings, reducing lost production days by an average of 43% and allowing for specific external blade inspections.
It is crucial, according to WPL, to determine precisely which turbines to inspect, when and how. Anders Røpke, managing director and founder of Wind Power LAB Anders Røpke, CEO and founder of Wind Power LAB, noted that they have developed an automatic rule-based notification system and a control panel that combines knowledge about lightning and blades to provide actionable information. The system, powered by market-leading remote sensing data and backed by WPL intelligence, helps identify turbines that need to be inspected for damage.
In addition, Røpke mentioned that recent LASSIE tests, conducted over eight months, recorded 98% lightning activity at a specific wind farm. Analysis of all structural damage revealed that lightning, ice throw and strong wind gusts are responsible for 50% of the damage to the blades.
LASSIE saves $2.7 million annually
In a customer trial, annual savings of $2.7 million were estimated through avoided damage progression. This underscores LASSIE’s effectiveness in helping wind turbine owners and asset managers adopt a prudent operator mentality, ensuring efficient repairs, quick responses and minimizing lost production days.
The implementation of LASSIE in wind farms improves the safety and operational efficiency of wind farms, and also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the need for frequent repairs and the use of additional materials, thus promoting greener practices in renewable energy management.
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Source: oedigital
Photo: Shutterstock
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