Lifetime Extension 20+
Extension of the Operating Licence
- use Resources sustainably!
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Analyse unused Potential of the WTG
After 20 years, the operating licence for a wind turbine generator in Germany expires.
Experience shows that the damage to a wind turbine generator over the years of use very often does not correspond to the assumptions made 20 years ago when applying for the operating licence.
In 90% of cases, a 20-year-old WTG is still usable, despite depreciation.
The lifetime extension of a depreciated turbine beyond the planned 20 years can therefore be regarded as a profitable first option.
Only when the WTG can no longer be operated for safety reasons could repowering become more attractive to maintain the location.
Wind and Turbulence Assessments - Planning Ahead
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5 Steps to the Expertise Report
- First Contact
- Evaluation of the Turbine Documentation
- Testing of the Components relevant to Stability
- Turbine Inspection
- Establish Expertise Report
If you would be interested in a non-binding offer for your WTG(s), please send us a short e-mail to info@windwise.eu.
After consultation with you, we check the location of your turbine and the environmental conditions. The offer we make afterwards includes the costs for the wind and turbulence assessment, for the analytical proof of stability and the inspection of the turbine for a condition analysis. We also offer an optional rotor blade assessment.
If an expertise opinion for lifetime extension 20+ is commissioned, this is followed by the evaluation of the turbine documentation, the inspection of the components relevant to stability, the inspection of the turbine and, finally, the preparation of the expert opinion. As a rule, at least 3 months should be planned for these steps.
Analytical Verification of Stability
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We inspect according to BWE Principles and the DIBt Guideline.
In order for a turbine not to lose its operating licence, its stability must be proven.
An expertise report is the basis for licensing authorities regarding lifetime extensions in order to approve the continued operation of the WTG.
We are a member of BWE and authorised by BWE.
We examine your wind turbine generator in accordance with the test methods laid down in the BWE principles "Principles for carrying out an assessment and examination on the continued operation of onshore wind turbine generators (BPW)", as well as the current DIBt guideline for wind turbine generators and the specifications and standards of DNV GL.
As a result, you will receive an expertise report for the continued operation of your wind turbine generator in accordance with the current state of technology.
We are an authorised member of the BWE (german wind energy association) and, as an authorised member of the BWE Expert Advisory Board, we have been appointed as an expert authorised to carry out periodic inspections on wind turbine generators.
Turbine Inspection for Condition Analysis
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On-site inspection - from the Tower to the Transformer
A turbine inspection is indispensable for the quality examination of a wind turbine.
The components of the wind turbine generator are inspected electrically and mechanically according to special expert criteria. During the inspection, special focus is placed on the findings from the previous analyses.
The turbine inspection concludes with an overall assessment of the turbine's state.
Rotor Blade Assessment - Optional
We offer a rotor blade assessment in cooperation with the company Special Blade Service - optional.
The aim of the rotor blade assessment is to ensure that the rotor blades are in good condition, to extend their service life and, if necessary, to optimise their performance.
With the help of abseiling teams, an internal and external inspection can be carried out on request, as well as a resistance measurement and also an earth resistance measurement.
In addition, an inspection with a cable platform is possible. The rope platform allows repair work to be carried out directly, which can be useful in the case of lightning damage, for example.
windwise Expertise Reports - from a Team with more than 20 Years in "Wind" Experience
Free personal Consultation - make an Appointment
- 1. First contact
- 2. Evaluation of the Turbine Documentation
- 3. Check of the Components relevant to Stability
- 4. Turbine Inspection
- 5. Expertise Opinion
Contact us - via Phone or E-mail...
In an initial non-binding consultation, we will show you the opportunities and risks for the lifetime extension of your wind turbine generator.
Evaluation of the Turbine Documentation
When evaluating the turbine documentation, the focus is on comparing your wind turbine at the site with the existing manufacturer documentation.
Simulation and structual Stability
The future stability and operational safety of a wind turbine generator at the end of its formal design life depends not least on the actual loads that have acted on the wind turbine during the design period.
For a serious determination of the continued operation 20+ and a well-founded argumentation with regard to the extension of the construction and operation permit, actual site conditions must be generated and compared with the load assumptions originally used for the design.
If no actual wind speeds and ambient turbulence are available for the load calculation, this data is generated within a wind and turbulence assessment in order to simulate the most accurate wear of the wind turbine generator.
In addition to wind speeds and ambient turbulence, site-specific terrain topologies and the nature of a wind farm, i. e. the ambient roughness, are an important part of our load calculation.
For the assessment of the stability of your wind turbine and the serious recommendation for a further operation 20+, we prepare a load comparison on the basis of damage-equivalent load collectives or possibly other relevant load assumptions, which also result from the previously mentioned analyses.
The site and turbine-specific loads are calculated in the Flex 5 software environment (aeroelastic simulation software), based on the individually adapted turbine model.
The results of this load calculation are used to verify the remaining lifetime of the components relevant to stability, such as the tower.
Taking into account the results of the review and inspection of the WTG and rotor, the potential for continued operation 20+ is assessed
Turbine Inspection
A turbine inspection is indispensable for the quality examination of a wind turbine.
The individual components of the wind turbine generator are examined electrically and mechanically according to special expert criteria. During the inspection, special focus is placed on the findings from the previous analyses.
The turbine inspection concludes with an overall assessment of the turbine's state.
Preparation of the Expert Report for the WTG
The results of the load calculation and the WTG inspection are summarised in a final expert report.
The expert report is a prerequisite for the approval of the continued operation of your wind turbine generator.
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WINDWISE GMBH
Augustastraße 47/49a
48153 Münster
E-mail: info@windwise.eu
Phone: +49.251.590 667 0
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