Rising up to the challenge – how digital innovation can shape the future of the wind industry

Wind energy is a vital part of our journey towards a zero-carbon future.  As well as increasing the pace of deployment we also need to think smarter to use digital innovation across the worldwide operating wind fleet. 

Data trends from RES’ analysis show that often two thirds of turbines present with opportunities for enhancements to improve their performance – with the most frequent focus areas being pitch (58%) and yaw (38%) mechanisms.  As wind assets age and move out of warranty periods, the need to optimise the current fleet and increase its annual energy production becomes even more critical, especially in the drive to reach net zero.

Harnessing the power of digital solutions

At RES, we believe leveraging data is the key to unlocking the full potential of renewable assets. By analysing data, we can gain insights that help identify opportunities to improve performance.

How do we turn these data insights into actual performance gains? The answer lies in uncovering the root cause of underperformance. The true impact of combining deep data with real-time optimisation can be significant. For example, at the Altahullion 1 Wind Farm, we achieved a 3.4% increase in Annual Energy Production (AEP). This improvement was driven by several technologies. The largest contributor was TuneUp™, which optimises blade pitch behaviour, enhancing turbine aerodynamics and performance with advanced analytics for fine-tuning beyond factory specifications. The second largest impact was seen from Dynamic Yaw™, which enables turbines to make better yaw decisions for the benefit of the entire wind farm. For more details, you can read the full Altahullion case study here.

Shaping a sustainable future

Digital solutions offer a powerful way to address the underperformance of renewable assets. By leveraging deep data and real-time optimisation, we can unlock the full potential of your assets and drive towards a more sustainable future.

RES offers a variety of digital products and services for both solar and wind, helping projects globally to maximise their performance. Click here to find out more about our digital and data offerings or contact us and we will be able to support you on your unique renewable energy portfolio needs.