Posters

Abstract

Power Curve Warranties have been the standard practice in commercial agreements between onshore Wind Farm Developers and Wind Turbine Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Yet, wind farm developers and asset managers are not always aware of the benefits of a Power Curve Warranty Schedule as a control tool during the first years of operation of a wind farm. Directly adapting the methodology from onshore projects, many offshore projects were also relying on meteorological Met Mast installations for executing a warrantied Power Curve Verification test. However, due to the offshore Met Mast costs, these Power Curve Warranty Schedules were rarely executed. Nacelle Mounted LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging) have technically allowed to execute Power Curve tests offshore at a comparable equipment cost to onshore projects. They can be up to 100 times cheaper than an offshore Met Mast, making Power Curve testing offshore commercially viable. It is important for wind developers to familiarise themselves with and make use of the latest industry-recommended best practices and state-of-the-art LiDAR technology. Otherwise, they will soon find themselves at a significant disadvantage in relation to the level of risks and cost associated with their Power Curve Warranty. While introducing LIDAR technology to the Power Curve testing offshore, developers need to take a step back and make sure they have established a solid foundation by developing a comprehensive holistic Power Curve Strategy over the project timeline. Researchers on the LiDAR field have generally not been exposed to the commercial implications of the power curve testing and its measurement uncertainty in Turbine Supply Agreements (TSAs). This study defines and proposes key steps for sensible and holistic Power Curve Verification Strategy as a method to be implemented by wind farm developers from an early project definition phase. It will present real-life examples from different markets across the globe.