Funding has been secured for a project in Denmark that is focused on reducing the risk and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs associated with wind turbine blades.
Bladena is heading up the Cost and Risk Tool for Interim and Preventative Repair (CORTIR) project, which has a total budget of €3.9m, and comprises 21 industrial partners and two universities.
The Danish Government Scheme for Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program has awarded 51% of financial support to the initiative.
CORTIR includes the development of an advanced, user-friendly numerical tool, called ‘CAR-Tool’, to optimise the management of turbine blade maintenance in terms of risks and costs.
Earlier work shows that significant improvements in wind turbine blade O&M can be achieved by employing an all-encompassing and rigorous tool, based on known structural issues.
In addition to Bladena the other project partners are Vestas, Nordex, LM Windpower, AAU Civil Engineering, DTU Mechanical Engineering, Kirt x Thomsen, ECC, Guide2Defect, Codan, Global Wind Service, E.ON, Engie, Hofor, EDF Energy, Equinor (Statoil), Innogy, EWII, Acciona Energy, Arise, Ørsted, Enel and Vector Cuatro (Part of FalckRenewable).
The CAR-Tool input parameters will range from reliability data to detailed knowledge about structural blade and composite behaviour during turbine operation.
By relating the technical inputs to the cost structures within O&M activities, the software will suggest an optimum inspection and maintenance strategy to be used for decision making that is technically and financially sound.
CORTIR will further demonstrate how blade retrofits can be deployed instead of standard repair approaches to reduce LCoE.
The project aims at benefiting all players engaged in blade maintenance activities, from wind farm owners to specialist providers of maintenance services to the industry to insurers.
Codan Insurance technical manager Finn Thyrring said: “We look forward to be part of this project and give our input on how the industry can minimise risk and O&M cost on blades.”