All articles by Ky Nikitha
Ky Nikitha
Take the power back
While Germany is a world leader in the generation of wind power, consumption of that electricity is lagging thanks to deficiencies in its national grid. As additional lines are built to cope with rising demand, scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have written a new AI program called PrognoNetz that will optimise the country’s national grid as it currently stands. Greg Noone talks to Gabriela Molinar, one of the project leads, about how the software will allow transmission system operators to make crucial decisions about power allocation without compromising Germany’s wind power revolution.
Turns and conditions
The growth of the internet of things (IoT) has the potential to offer significant advantages to offshore wind maintenance, with sensors able to provide constant data on the functioning of a turbine. César Yanes, project coordinator of the ROMEO Project, discusses the use of IoT to move from corrective to condition-based maintenance with Kerry Taylor-Smith.
Death from above
The coming onslaught of higher temperatures and extreme weather promised by climate change necessitates our increasing reliance on wind power and other forms of renewable energy. Nevertheless, the turbines sprouting on our hills and valleys can have their own catastrophic effects on local bird and bat populations. Greg Noone talks to Dr Taber Allison, director of research and evaluation at the American Wind Wildlife Institute, about the scale of the problem and what measures are being taken for its mitigation.
Strike back
Lightning strikes can cause huge damage to offshore turbines, particularly to blades, and are also a key safety concern for crews. Abi Millar discusses the dangers turbines face from lightning, and considers the key methods and technologies used to predict and monitor this threat with Dr Vidyadhar Peesapati of the University of Manchester.
A European success story
The wind industry is gearing up to write its next chapter on 26–28 November at WindEurope Offshore 2019. Taking place in Copenhagen, this biennial conference and exhibition is Europe’s foremost offshore wind energy event, gathering more than 8,000 attendees from over 50 countries to focus on the industry’s next steps.
