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How private wireless is optimizing offshore wind performance
Private wireless networks are
fast becoming indispensable for offshore wind farms. As discussed in part one of this article they take traditional voice- only communications to the next level, for example supporting offshore video calls and enabling remote drone piloting for turbine blade inspections.
As Daniel Sangines, Nokia’s
Regional Energy CTO, explains: “Our private networks give fi eld technicians always-on connectivity across the wind farm: great when working on the top of a nacelle, on a blade or inside a service vessel. They also bring the LTE signal inside the turbine structures for the fi rst time, giving operations staff a clear picture of what’s going on.” Beyond this, private wireless
networks offer robust digital connectivity that enables the use of new smart devices and technologies like augmented reality (AR), transforming the on- site toolkit available to workers in remote locations. “You can imagine somebody
is working 100 meters up in the nacelle of the turbine, and through a pair of smart glasses will be looking at a specifi c component - but they will be also getting real-time data from that particular device.” Says Chris Jones, Nokia’s Head of Energy Sales Europe. Virtual reality (VR) applications are also increasingly being
deployed to allow tasks like operational planning through digital twins or even on-site training. It all makes deploying private wireless connectivity, based on LTE and future-proofed for 5G, a new pre-requisite. And for those workers who spend weeks at a time living on offshore service vessels, the network extends on-board so they can stream a movie during downtime or make video calls home. Nokia is also looking at providing connectivity for onshore operational teams in the ports.
Maintenance matters now more than ever With offshore wind farms poised to supply signifi cant amounts of electricity to power networks, effi cient maintenance is critical; any turbine outage could seriously disrupt supplies to the grid. But performing asset inspections by eye is time consuming and impractical, with turbines and infrastructure spread across several kilometers. “Operators are keen to maximize operational time – minimize maintenance windows, predict when preventative maintenance needs to take place – and that relies on capturing data in very near real-time and processing it.” says Jones. That’s why drones are
increasingly important tools for the offshore service industry and strong network connectivity
can take these inspections to an even higher level. The LTE signal provided by Nokia’s private network allows drones equipped with high-defi nition cameras to be fl own remotely by a pilot from any location connected to the network, or even pre- programmed to follow a set inspection fl ightpath. The private network then enables these drones to stream the images back to the operator or control center in real-time, transforming visibility across the entire offshore estate, and enhancing safety and security.
Powering performance improvements But rolling out private wireless
networks for offshore wind is about more than improving cost and maintenance. Advances in turbine technology mean they can also enable performance improvements for the turbines themselves.
A whole suite of new sensors and monitoring equipment is currently being developed that will collect valuable operational data, which can then be used to optimize asset performance. Devices connected to the private network are able to monitor these turbine sensors multiple times per second, quickly transferring data on key operating metrics such as structural changes, temperature, acoustics or even lightning detection.
To fi nd out more, get in touch with our expert team by visiting us at
https://www.nokia.com/networks/industries/renewable-energy/
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