Site Assessment Strategies: Basis for successful Wind Park Projects

Eric Effern, WINDTEST Grevenbroich GmbH German Renewable Energy Day Global Windpower 2006, Adelaid, 19.09.2006

WINDTEST Grevenbroich GmbH

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1. Overview of technically influencing Factors

Wind Potential Wind Turbine Park Design Grid Connection

Park Optimization Technical Inspection Service & Maintenance

Successful Wind Park

Environmental Impact, Acceptance Noise Emission Shadow Cast

Technical Start of Operation

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2.1 Wind Potential: Objectives

General Characteristics
Windspeed as Annual Average Turbulence Intensity

In several heights, e.g 30m, 50m hubheight

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2.1 Wind Potential: Objectives

Weibull Distribution

Relative Frequency

Wind Speed

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2.1 Wind Potential: Objectives

Wind Energy Rose

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2.1 Wind Potential: Objectives

Wind Profile

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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

Calculation
Site Inspection Digital Model of Orography, Roughness Minimum 10 km Radius, usually much more Long Term correlated macroscopic Wind Data

+ Fast, low priced (< 5.000$) Uncertainties (5%..15%), especially in complex terrain, 2D Model

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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

Simulation
Site Inspection Digital Model of Orography, Roughness Minimum 10 km Radius, usually much more Long Term correlated macroscopic Wind Data

+ Fast, medium priced (5.000$ - 10.000$), 3D Model + High Resolution Uncertainties (5%..10%), but better that calculation

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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

Measurement by Mast
Erection of Mast Sensors for Speed, Direction Sensors for Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Rain All in several height steps (2-4) Only with twice calibrated, high Quality Sensors (500$ - 2000$)

+ Accuracy (<5%) Duration 1 Year, high priced (20.000$ - 40.000$) Superproportional growth of costs with growing measuring heights
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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

Mast Example Height: 100 m Sensors: wind speed wind direction air pressure air temperature rain status Steps: 3

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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

Measurement by SODAR
Installation of SODAR Measurement of Speed, Direction Measurement of Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Rain All in several heights (10m-200m)

+ Accuracy (<5%), Flexibility, 3D Wind Vectors Duration 1 Year, high priced (50.000$)

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2.2 Wind Potential: Procedures

SODAR Principle of function

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2.2 Wind Potential: Strategy

Calculation and Simulation for first Survey Few Measurements in Hubheight with Masts, 1 Year Few Measurements up to Tip Height with Sodar, 1 Year Several Measurements in low height, 1 Year Combined with moving SODAR Systems, 2 months Costs << 0,1 % of investment Benefit: several percent increase accuraccy (1% for a 50 MW park is approx. 75000 $ per year!)

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3. Turbine Technology: State of the Art

Technical Data
Rated power: Standard 2 MW, prototypes up to 6 MW Rotor diameter: standard 90 m, prototypes up to 120 m Hub height: 80 m -120 m Weight: 100 t -200 t nacelle + rotor, 250 t tower Cost: Around 1 000 per installed kW Parks with up to 100 WEC and 200 MW total P

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4. Grid Integration
Overwiev Goals of Grid Managment: Quality, Security, Cost Efficiency Demand of electrical power varies over daytime and over the year Traditional Method: base load, reserve system (hour, minute, second) Renewable energy supply varies over daytime, over the year and regional Grid and Park Managment more sophisticated
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4.1 Power consumption over Day Time

Peak load power consumption [%]

Middle load

Base load

Day Time Day time

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4.1 Wind Power and Power Consumption

Wind power power consumption

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4.3 Grid Integration - Grid Codes

All large grid providers have launched grid connection rules for wind parks on high voltage grids (>= 110 kV) Grid codes for medium voltage grids will follow Wind turbine behaviour in case of grid faults: Turbines have to stay on the grid at distant short circuits, supporting the grid voltage Wind turbines might have to provide or consume reactive power, depending on the request of the grid provider Wind turbines might have to limit their output power in case of grid problems, depending on the request of the grid provider Modern wind turbines fulfil the demands and are tested and certified according to them

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5.1 Technical Inspection - Basics

Regular inspection of the turbines (after erection and every 2 to 4 years) According to the Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and respectively the BWE guidelines (BWE is the German federation of WEC operators, manufacturers etc.) All safety and durability relevant components are checked Visual tests, functional tests, moment of torque (screw connections), oil probation, document check Benefit: Increase of Availability

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5.2 Technical inspection - Examples

Transformer station Ladder

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5.2. Technical inspection - Examples

Gearbox

Cables

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5.2. Technical inspection - Examples

Structure

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5.2. Technical inspection - Examples

Bolts, fracture analysis

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5.2 Technical inspection - Examples

Blades

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5.3 Technical inspection - Vibration analysis

Vibration analysis gives extra information about wear or upcoming damages of the drive train Identification of damaged component possible Avoiding secondary damages, e. g. whole gearbox Optimised service and repair planning possible with minimum downtime of the turbine One week downtime for 1.5 MW turbine means up to 10000 $ Insurance might ask for regular inspections and vibration analysis, or otherwise the insurance contributions rises

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5.4 Technical Inspection - Specials

Thermography, endoscopy, lightning protection test, and other special techniques End of guarantee period: condition analysis of the turbine (drive train) costs 1000$ - 4000$. An exchange of the gearbox costs around 200,000 $. The tests might decide, whether the operator has to pay for it or the manufacturer!

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5.4 Technical inspection - Thermography

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6. Park Optimization
Possible Reasons for underperforming Parks
Site Bad Site Bad Wind Year Inaccurate Site Assessment

Turbines Qualified Turbine for this site Operational Availability Turbine Settings Power Curve

Grid Availability Interferences

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Any Questions ?

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