Certification agency Bureau Veritas has granted an aging wind farm a three-year lifetime extension (LTE), following an assessment.
The LTE was granted to a 1.5MW turbine, situated in an undisclosed location, and implemented at a fraction of cost of a full repowering, according to the company.
Improvements in maintenance and inspection plans for the wind farm were also achieved.
When the design lifetime is close to being reached, various options are usually considered, including decommissioning, site repowering with higher capacity turbines or extending the operation of the installed turbines.
The completion of an LTE assessment was required by national regulations, for the turbine to continue operating beyond its certified design life of 20 years.
The implications for the wider industry suggest that replacing a blade or a gearbox is a more economical approach to installing an entirely new wind turbine.
Potentially extending the operation of a wind farm through an LTE, will allow the owner to increase the assets’ value, maximise revenue and reduce the cost of energy, according to the agency.
Through a blend of simulations and a review of the turbine’s type certification documentation, particularly its corresponding safety margins, the Bureau Veritas team concluded that a multi-year lifetime extension was feasible for the assessed turbine.
The LTE analysis was conducted using existing turbine performance output, calculations and inspections.
The assessment proves that wind farms contain infrastructural components whose design lifetime may exceed the 20-plus year mark.