Glennmont Partners is working with Clir Renewables to improve the performance of wind farms.
The duo will work together to identify wind turbine underperformance, to investigate solutions for improvement with project partners, and validate subsequent increases in operational output utilising its extensive domain expertise.
The relationship which has seen Clir’s technology deployed on a number of onshore wind projects for the fund, has led Glennmont and Clir to work together.
As part of this collaboration, Glennmont requested Clir investigate seasonal underperformance that was first detected during an analysis of a project’s SCADA data.
Clir’s analysis confirmed Glennmont’s initial findings, and outlined in detail instances of underperformance that were likely related to software changes implemented by the turbine manufacturer .
Glennmont and Clir then facilitated a “constructive and positive working relationship with the OEM, supporting technical analysis and commercial discussions”.
They said: “This ensured productive collaboration to ascertain the best solution – in this case the addition of extra vortex generators.”
Following the implementation of the additional vortex generators, which Clir later validated, the upgrades demonstrated a 2.9% increase in project annual energy production, the companies said.
Clir will now work with Glennmont and its asset managers to monitor, optimise and report on asset performance.
Clir European director David O’Hare said: “Having an opportunity to work with a firm like Glennmont is a great endorsement of the real and discernible return on investment that we can bring to investor portfolios.
“In our initial programme of work, we were able to determine the root cause of underperformance, which, alongside Glennmont’s proactive approach to asset management, meant that we could work with all project stakeholders to rapidly deliver a significant improvement in turbine power production.”
“With the opportunity to expand our work with Glennmont, we’re looking forward to supporting our client in its leading approach to maintaining and enhancing investor returns from renewable energy assets”
Glennmont chief engineer Geoff Hoffheinz said: “At Glennmont, we are proud of our reputation and track record as a leading clean technology investor and asset manager.
“In delivering sustainable and predictable returns to our investor partners, we focus on the best decision making driven by class leading data.
“Partnering with Clir takes our data understanding to another level, and enables us to proactively manage our projects for maximum returns.”
“We look forward to continuing work with Clir across our projects in new territories and regions in the future.”