Turbine performance: key parameter of wind farm operation
Measuring and quantifying turbine performance has been at the heart of questions, doubts, and uncertainties on wind farm operation since the beginning of the wind industry. And for a good reason: turbine performance is influenced by multiple complex factors - including external conditions, turbine control, electrical and mechanical efficiency - for which reliable data is often not available.
Power curve analysis remains the standard method to quantify wind turbine performance. Our technology enables a wind speed corrected analysis for a reliable performance monitoring over time, largely improving the precision of standard SCADA analysis.
This is especially true when it comes to wind speed —the key factor in turbine performance, as it represents the "potential" energy available for production. However, the standard measurements, by being taken behind the rotor, are often unreliable and should be treated with caution.
Despite that difficulty, Owners and Asset Managers still want to answer the question: are my assets performing to their full potential?
Finding the right balance between precision, time and cost in monitoring turbine performance is far from straightforward. SCADA data, while widely available, often lacks the necessary precision. On the other hand, installing additional sensors can improve accuracy, but this comes with significant costs and operational challenges, making large-scale deployment nearly impossible.
While there may be no perfect solutions, we at ExpertWind believe much more can be achieved with the data already available. By combining the latest advancements in data processing, machine learning and AI with our domain expertise, we can address most of the challenges associated with SCADA data—ensuring quality, stability, and even correcting wind speed measurements when necessary. The result is a reliable, scalable performance monitoring that enables root-cause analysis, helping to detect and resolve any issues creating turbine underperformance.
We are driven by the belief that precisely measuring performance is a defining feature of a mature industry and should be a strict requirement on our ever growing installed capacity.
Want to learn more about our innovative Performance monitoring? And how you and your wind farms could benefit from our results? Feel free to reach out and Contact Us.