Evaluating Ageing Turbines for Safe Operation Beyond Their Design Lives
An increasing number of wind turbines are approaching the end of their service lives. As a result, operators are being confronted with the crucial business decision of whether to decommission, repower or continue to operate their assets. One of the key factors affecting these decisions is the evaluation of the physical condition of the turbine considered for continued operation. In this article, TÜV SÜD describes the methods, requirements and results of a lifetime extension assessment.
By Christian Schumacher and Florian Weber, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service, Germany