The wind, the loads and the money' High quality wind

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The wind, the loads and the money. High quality
wind site work is the key.

• Jørgen Højstrup
• Wiebke Langreder
• Suzlon Energy A/S, Denmark
• 08.05.07

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Contents

• Introduction
• Wind measurements
• Wind analysis
• Site specific loads
• Organisation

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Introduction

• Wind gt Energy gt Income
• Wind gt Loads gt Cost

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Introduction

• Wind gt Energy gt Income
• Wind gt Loads gt Cost
• What can we do to maximise minimize cost,
  
• and avoid

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Wind Measurements

• Beware of small expenses a small leak will sink
  a great ship.  Benjamin Franklin
• i.e. save 50.000 on measurements for a
  100.000.000 project
• An example, moderately complex terrain,
  consequences of too much saving money

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Saving moneygtUncertainties

• Dont calibrate anemometers, 10
• Masts too low, 25
• Poor maintenance, data less than a year, 15
• Unprofessional analysis based on our experience,
  speed-up factor for this hill will be 8, we do
  not need models. 25
• TOTAL uncertainty 40

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Uncertainties

• Calibrate anemometers, 4
• Several masts near hubheight, 5
• Good data quality for two years, 7
• Professional analysis based on best models,
  knowing and correcting for their imperfections,
  10
• TOTAL uncertainty 15

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How much did we save?

• Revenue calculated 15 M/y
• 40 uncertainty
• 75 probability of reaching 11 M/y or more
• 15 uncertainty
• 75 probability of reaching 13.5 M/y or more
• We saved 0.05 M, lost 2.5 M/y of selling price
  potential

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Alternative philosophy

• Who would make money must begin by spending it. 
  Proverbs, Italy
• So Spend the necessary money on good
  measurements and proper analysis

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Wind analysis ?

• We do not use flow models, they are all too
  unreliable
• Based on our experience, we get a speed-up
  factor of 1.08 for this hill
• In our report we do not say how we calculated,
  but we have background material that you can get
  on request
• Unfortunately the harddisk crashed and I forgot
  to make a backup!

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Wind analysis ?

• Our new state-of-the-art models are perfect,
  have been tested worldwide
• Our total uncertainty in the calculations is 5
• You do not need to use cup anemometers for
  measurements, anybody can use data from SODAR,
  LIDAR, satellites

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Wind analysis ?

• We know that our models are not perfect
• We correct for model imperfections as best we
  can
• We document in our reports what we did
• SODARs, LIDARs are useful instruments, but you
  need experts to use them and to analyze the data
• Unfortunately the very best uncertainty that can
  be achieved under ideal conditions is about 10

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Site specific loads

• Careful wind analysis to get load parameters
• Site specific load calculations allows for
  optimization of turbine components (towers,
  foundations ...)

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Organisation

• Matrix structure, worldwide
• Dilemma
• We need people in each of our subsidiaries, close
  to the markets.
• These single groups are subcritical regarding
  learning and collecting knowledge.
• We need them all to work together, exchange
  knowledge to keep quality high.

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Organisation

• Central knowledge bank with high level expertise,
  responsible for
• Training
• Tools, methodologies
• Quality
• Redistributing workload
• Regular workshops

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Challenges

• Multiple cultures means emphasis on how to
  communicate.
• We all speak English (variety of dialects), but
  are based in different business cultures.
• How do we get the best out of the cultural
  differences?

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Cultures

• Read all about it
• learning by doing
• have your sensors on superhigh sensitivity to be
  able to improve by using all the feedback you can
  get.
• Personal interaction important, so travel alone
  and have meetings without your support staff (and
  without local managers)

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Conclusions

• Measure the wind using high quality equipment
• Analyze the data carefully and professionally.
• Use your data for optimization of your turbines.
• Improve your your wind site people
• Then you make more money