Michael Curry
Environmental degradation and wastage are one of the most prevalent topics in the world currently. The prospects of global warming and other ecological changes have seen the population become more energy conscious.
Wind energy has since become the best energy production for the future. Even though wind energy currently counts for only 5% of the world’s electricity, it is likely to grow in the next several years. Studies show wind energy will account for 50% of electricity in 2050.
To achieve the goals, the sector must invest in innovation and efficiency. Here are some of the tips to maximize your wind farm in line with the expected developments.
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Wind turbines improvements
For the longest time, wind turbine design focused on lighter and flexible blades, which are also long-lasting. These designs relied on intelligent control and monitoring systems to operate optimally.
Times are changing. While the wind energy community believes the current wind designs are already efficient, they understand it can achieve even more efficiency. One of the best ways to improve the turbines is by increasing the blade size. A larger blade covers more area to attract more wind hence more intense rotation. This, in turn, translates to more offshore wind energy produced.
The other possible way to improve the turbines is by making them taller. Winds are more intense and consistent higher up. The more winds reach the turbines, the higher the energy production potential.
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Making the wind farm more efficient
For the improved wind turbines to operate optimally, they will equally efficient wind farms. For a long time, wind farms have invested in increasing the number of turbines to increase energy production. This, however, comes at a cost.
Having many turbines in the farm needs more upstream generators to operate—these generators, when close, can easily create a quake that interferes with the downstream turbines. In the end, the farm would not have increased the production as envisioned.
Improving the wind farms thus involves proper turbine location instead of increasing their numbers. This comes with low costs of operations and more efficiency.
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Embracing predictive maintenance
As with any machine, wind turbines are likely to fail after some time. They are open to wear and tear and other damage factors. In the past, wind farms had focused on reactive maintenance. They would only observe the generators, gearbox, and the other main bearing through the condition monitoring systems.
Today, the farms can detect failures before they happen by monitoring the various components like fluid and vibration sensors and other particular counters. The wind firms are collaborating with companies like IQIP for predictive maintenance best practices.
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Improving the storage options
Limited storage options remain a concern for wind energy production. Battery storage options can only store energy for some time hence not suitable for long-term use.
So far, turning the energy into Hydrogen seems the ideal option. Still, more studies will have to take place before adoption.
In Conclusion
Wind energy is a reliable, clean energy option. It, however, needs fully functional wind farms for more widespread adoption. The above tips are some of the starting points to make wind farms more efficient and productive.
