GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company (GPM), offers a powerful suite of products in the wind turbine SCADA data analysis market. As well as monitoring key performance KPIs, we are developing advanced analytics aimed at maximizing energy production.
What’s the problem?
It is estimated that up to 3% of the energy production of wind farms is lost through ‘partial performance’, when turbines are functioning but not as efficiently as they should. The blades are going round but things aren’t working quite right.
Losses from partial performance may sound small, a few percent, but when left for years they are very expensive. For example, just 1% of the production of a modern wind turbine is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over its lifetime.
Advanced SCADA analysis by GPM
The problem is often subtle and can be difficult to spot, but the advanced analysis of SCADA being developed by GPM can reveal it. By detecting partial performance, it allows for swift repair and boosting revenue. It can also help with identifying the root cause, the first step towards implementing a solution and increasing generation.
What types of partial performance can advanced SCADA analysis detect?
Here are some examples of partial performance that can be detected by the advanced SCADA analysis being developed by GPM:
Yaw misalignment: turbines think they are pointing into the wind, but actually they are not. A misalignment of just 3 degrees can be enough to reduce output by 1%.
Incorrect curtailment: sometimes the output of a turbine is deliberately reduced, for example to reduce noise, or to reduce fatigue damage. Incorrect programming or bad wind sensors can cause this to occur at the wrong time causing unnecessary lost production. We have seen an example where the incorrect set up of a low-noise mode reduced the production of a wind park by more than 5%.
Pitch controller error: incorrect pitch settings can drastically reduce a turbine’s efficiency. In one example, the output of a 2MW turbine had fallen by around 30%. The lost production from this single fault was worth around $10k per month: more than $100k a year if left undetected.
GPM SCADA in-plant controller
GPM SCADA is an in-plant controller for utility-scale facilities capable of managing projects with over 1 million variables. Our SCADA management solution provides control over devices, full plant commands, and real-time 1-second data for all parameters.
Download our brochure today on GPM SCADA in-plant controller for utility-scale facilities to learn more about how the solution is set ready to optimize operations and efficiency at your renewable energy plant.
