Projects

This was our first pilot optimisation of a Siemens-2.3-93, and proved an excellent opportunity to implement our technology in a live environment. The turbine was noise-curtailed between the hours of 9 PM and 6 AM to reduce noise.

The aims of the pilot project were:

• Demonstrate a significant increase in AEP
• Demonstrate that Reoptimize Systems technology has no detrimental effects on the turbine and the machine stays within its load envelope
• Show that as a result of Reoptimize control settings there are fewer alarms and a reduced need for unscheduled maintenance

Optimised control settings were first installed on the turbine in April 2021. Results of the Siemens turbine demonstrate:

• 1.5% Annual Energy Production (AEP) uplift

• Reduction in tower loads of 25%

• 2% AEP uplift if loads are instead not reduced from baseline

• 1.5 dBA noise reduction (huge impact if noise curtailed)

• Reduction in unscheduled shutdowns with causes such as rotor overspeed, bearing overheating, excessive vibration etc.

• Elimination in current spikes at turbine startup by an order of magnitude

LOCATION: GERMANY

TURBINE: 2.3-93

Optimisation of a 60 kW direct-drive turbine. The ESPE FX23 has a larger rotor compared to peer designs, and this turbine had been downrated from 120kW to 60kW. The rotor speed had also been reduced by the OEM.

Key considerations:

• The anemometer of the turbine was not properly calibrated

• At this site the wind characteristics vary significantly depending on wind direction

• Very strong turbulence, higher than on previously analysed machines

This machine was successfully optimised to produce an increase in Annual Energy Production of at least 6%, while simultaneously producing a much more stable power curve at higher speeds — remaining within vibration and load envelopes and reducing significantly the thermal stress in the electrical components.

LOCATION: ITALY

TURBINE: ESPE FX23

Wind resource highly turbulent due to terrain roughness and tower height. This was causing extremely frequent vibrations that caused multiple unscheduled shutdowns.

The challenge was to aim for a maximum AEP subject to meet a minimum of 10% reduction of tower vibrations without decreasing output power significantly.

This machine was successfully optimised to produce an increase in Annual Energy Production of at least 5%, while simultaneously producing a much more stable power curve at higher speeds — remaining within vibration and load envelopes and significantly reducing thermal stress in the electrical components.

LOCATION: WALES

TURBINE: ESPE FX21