Duke Energy Renewables is rolling out an alternative lifting service for turbine repair and maintenance.
Unlike traditional wind turbine maintenance which can require many cranes, a massive construction zone and precise scheduling of multiple contractors and equipment, Duke claims its new service makes the process more efficient.
Mobilization requires a standard 40-foot shipping container, eliminating the need for oversized or overweight road permits as well as the typical caravan of heavy trucks emitting fossil-fuel exhaust.
Engineered to eliminate ground stability issues and operate in wind speeds up to 40MPH, the service enables wind turbine repair and replacement up to 100metres in the air with fewer unexpected delays.
One contractor and a smaller construction zone results in a more easily coordinated project that keeps workers safe, while projects are kept on schedule and on budget, according to Duke.
Powered by a wind turbine’s back-feed circuit, the new up-tower crane is fully electrical and produces zero greenhouse emissions as compared to traditional cranes that run on fossil fuels.
The reduced project footprint also minimizes damage to local terrain and wildlife, Duke says.
Duke Energy Renewables vice president Jeff Wehner said: “Streamlining the wind turbine maintenance process to one call, one truck, one team and in as little as one day is a new service, we’re thrilled to offer our commercial wind energy customers.
“U.S. wind power has more than tripled over the past decade. As wind energy resources continue to grow, utilizing more efficient maintenance services will help to optimize wind energy resources so that they produce the greatest amount of renewable energy possible.”