Wind Power Innovation : AI, Lasers And Thermal Cameras Help Maximize Efficiency

In the field of wind power, a German consortium has now launched a pilot project where artificial intelligence will be used to boost output and reduce maintenance costs. Here are a few key elements of the project :

• The German consortium, spearheaded by the Ruhr-University of Bochum, is a subproject of the international demonstration project “SmartWind” that focuses on the digitalisation of wind energy. The aim is to use AI to monitor all the technical components of the turbines on a wind farm, and use the resulting data to determine if individual components are likely to break in order to prevent more serious damage in the future. The AI will learn to recognize signs – such as specific vibrations or irregular overheating – as symptoms of potential risk.
• The technology will also “instruct” individual turbines according to weather conditions. For example, if the wind blows from a certain direction, the AI system can calculate how a turbine should rotate to not get in the way of the one behind it. The algorithms will also make it easier to regulate an offshore grid from the mainland by, for example, preventing fluctuations in voltage and supply.
• The project is a combination of research and direct application, as the theoretical results will go through a live trial on a test wind farm run by the Turkish project partner Zorlu Enerji. SmartWind has been awarded the Eurogia 2020 label, which supports innovative international cooperation projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.

ENGIE Eye

The goal of maximizing output and reducing risk of breakdown is also part on ENGIE’s commitment to innovate on wind power production. As part of this year’s “Innovation Trophies” ENGIE Green offers a solution with the launch of the CLARITY project : a drone technology featuring a powerful laser system and thermal camera. By penetrating the surface of a turbine, CLARITY can detect internal failures before they have a serious impact on power generation.