RENEWABLE ENERGY
Turbines will need to be tested before they are
connected to the grid to ensure they can safely handle the loads promised
PREPARE FOR WEATHER
Director of load bank manufacturer Power Prove, Andrew Keith, explores how wind farm operators can save money and avoid downtime
A
s most of us windswept Brits know all too well, the UK is endowed with vast off and onshore
wind resources. In fact, the country leads the world in this fi eld. By 2023, the British isles had over 11,000 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW): 15 GW onshore and 15 GW off shore. By their nature though both on and off shore wind turbines face operating
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conditions that can impact system reliability leading to component failure. Key problems are likely to include energy fl uctuations, blade damage, gearbox problems and generator strife.
RIGOROUS TESTING PROGRAMME Implementing a rigorous testing programme can alleviate these problems as Andrew Keith, director of
load bank manufacturer Power Prove explains. He said that before turbines are
connected to the grid, they must be assessed to ensure they can safely handle and produce the loads promised. The unpredictability of natural sources leads to energy fl uctuations, and systems must be able to deal with these. Before set up, operators will need to secure warranties and certifi cations
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