Klaus Georg Hansen, Principal Engineer at DNV GL Renewables Certification – Energy explains how it is possible to save costs and maximize return by extending the life of wind turbine and wind farms…
Extension of the operating life can be highly interesting for operators, investors and manufacturers in order to maximize the profitability of their wind farm. Investing in lifetime extension enables operators/investors to enjoy profits for a longer time once the initial investment costs of their turbine have been paid off.
For that reason the evaluation of a wind turbine or wind farm with regard to its potential for lifetime extension does provide important information not only at the end of the design lifetime. Knowing the potential for lifetime extension already at an early stage contributes to a sound financial planning of the project.
The opportunity for added revenue on the one hand and the risk of a failure or property damage on the other hand are important aspects that need to be considered in this regard.
Wind turbines are subject to high dynamic stresses. The number of load cycles during their lifetime is much higher compared to other structures. The occurring loads can be characterized as being highly variable and less predictable as for example traffic loads on bridges. For that reason a realistic evaluation of a turbine or wind farm regarding its potential for lifetime extension is not an easy task. Besides the complex environmental conditions of a site, a lot of other influencing parameters need to be taken into account. The turbine design, technical condition of the turbine and the maintenance history is important information and needs to be mentioned here. In order to operate wind turbines safely beyond their original design lifetime, they need to be assessed adequately.
