Combining complex and disparate data sources to define and deploy leaner and smarter operational strategies to improve the performance of wind farms - Phase 2

Natural Power是一家独立的可再生能源咨询和服务提供商，总部设在苏格兰，致力于创造更好的环境。我们在可再生能源项目的所有阶段提供支持和建议，从最初的规划和开发阶段，到提供运营方面的援助和专业知识，最后是资产的退役和/或重新供电。我们被认为是陆上风电运营服务领域的领导者，因为我们对可再生资产管理采取了全面的方法，结合了我们分析、资产管理和服务部门的专业知识。为了在英国陆上和海上风电场的无补贴市场中竞争，我们需要降低运营支出(OPEX)，从而降低风电场项目的总体水平能源成本(LCOE)。此外，为了最大限度地提高投资回报，需要延长运营资产的寿命，为此，必须确定资产的剩余使用寿命。采用数据驱动的方法对于确保这些关键领域的高效决策至关重要。对于由Natural Power管理和服务的风力发电场来说，提供更精简、更智能和更高效的服务的需求越来越大。为了保持行业领先地位，同时保持成本竞争力，将数据整合到风力发电场持续管理的决策过程中是至关重要的。迄今为止成功的一个例子包括分析涡轮机常见故障产生的数据，并结合我们的分析和机械专业知识来确定哪些故障可以自动重置，而不是手动重置。此指标平均可为每个故障节省7小时的停机时间。采用数据驱动的风电场运营方法将允许在风速预报为低风速时进行主动维护，从而减少涡轮机维修的总体财务影响。这也将允许现场技术人员的智能管理，以确保他们首先瞄准将产生最大财务影响的领域。主要的挑战是数据是复杂和不同的，作为该项目的一部分，我们希望将数据和分析结合起来，以产生可操作的任务。从数据分析中获得的知识不仅使Natural Power受益，而且使整个行业受益，因为更多的电力将来自可再生能源，这与Natural Power的愿景非常吻合。

Natural Power is an independent renewable energy consultancy and service provider, headquartered in Scotland, with a vision to 'create a better environment'. We offer support and advice at all stages of a renewable energy project from the initial planning and development phase, through to providing assistance and expertise in operations and finally decommissioning and/or repowering of the assets. We are considered leaders in the field of operational services in onshore wind due to our holistic approach to renewable asset management, combining expertise from our analytics, asset management and servicing departments.To compete within a subsidy free marketplace both onshore and offshore wind farms in the UK need to reduce operational expenditure (OPEX) and hence reduce the overall levelised cost of energy (LCoE) of wind farm projects. In addition, to maximise returns on investments there is a drive to extend the life of operational assets and in order to do this the remaining useful life of the assets must be determined. Adopting a data driven approach is essential to ensure efficient decision making in these key areas.For the wind farms that Natural Power manage and service there is increased demand to provide leaner, smarter and more efficient services. To remain industry leading while being cost competitive it is essential that data are integrated into the decision-making process for the ongoing management of wind farms. An example of a success to date includes analysing data generated on common faults on turbines and combining our analysis and mechanical expertise to determine which faults can be automatically reset as opposed to being manually reset. This metric saves on average, seven hours of downtime per fault.Taking a data driven approach to wind farm operation will allow proactive maintenance to be undertaken at a time where the wind forecast is for low wind, reducing the overall financial impact of the turbine repair. This will also allow smart management of the site technicians to ensure they are targeting the areas which will have the biggest financial impact first. The main challenge is that the data are complex and disparate, as part of this project we are looking to combine data and analysis to produce actionable tasks.The knowledge gained from the data analytics not only benefits Natural Power but the entire industry since more electricity will available from renewable energy sources and this fits firmly with Natural Power's vision.