The report can also be used to apply for insurance policy extensions and is also often required by service providers at the end of a turbine’s design life. This allows operators to determine the continued operational costs and risk of failure against the cost of replacement or even decommissioning. This is known as a lifetime extension assessment and includes both theoretical and practical analysis, such as on-site inspections and the evaluation of design load data.Ī status report will detail the maintenance requirements, from which an accurate estimate of the cost of wind turbine lifetime extension can be generated. These assessments will determine whether continued operation is possible and when any components may need replacing to extend the life of the overall structure. This requires the condition of the asset to be assessed and compared with the expended lifespan of the turbine, based upon the expected loads and fatigue as well as environmental factors for the wind energy site. The lifecycle of a turbine can be extended through careful monitoring and maintenance. As a moving component, the rotor blades are subject to higher levels of loading and fatigue, and can also suffer damage from birds or other objects striking them as well as the impact of high wind speeds or lightning strikes. Wind turbine blades need a special mention, as they are particularly prone to damage. ![]() These include a variety of different parts and components, from wind turbine blades to wiring and hydraulic systems. In addition to these environmental factors, there are the usual concerns for any structure based around fatigue failure from use over the lifespan of the asset. These conditions are site specific and include average wind speeds, turbulence intensities and (for offshore wind farm operators) the cyclic loading of foundations, jacket structures, and monopiles caused by waves. One of the primary factors that determine the lifespan of a wind turbine are the environmental operating conditions faced by the wind industry. This can reach levels almost 100 times greater than the design loads at rated wind speed, which is why many turbines are designed to shut down to protect themselves at higher wind speeds.įactors That Determine the Lifespan of a Wind Turbine and What Damages Wind Turbine Blades? Of course, as the wind speed increases, so do the loads that turbines are subjected to. ![]() This is partly due to the structure of the turbines themselves, since the turbine blades and the tower are only fixed at one end of the structure and therefore face the full force of the wind. Wind turbines are unlikely to last much longer than this because of the extreme loads they are subjected to throughout their lives. However, the maintenance costs will increase as the structure ages. National Structural Integrity Research CentreĪ good quality, modern wind turbine will generally last for 20 years, although this can be extended to 25 years or longer depending on environmental factors and the correct maintenance procedures being followed. ![]() Structural Integrity Research Foundation.
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