Session: 10-03: Alternative Energy Conversion Technology (including Wind, Geothermal, Hydro, and Ocean)

Paper Number: 131089

131089 - A Summary of the State of Art in Wind Energy Activities in Cold Climates 

Abstract: 

Wind energy in cold climates presents unique challenges and opportunities. Wind turbine operations in cold climates, such as Sweden,  Finland, and North America are subject to additional maintenance and inspections to ensure optimal performance due to icing losses and extra fatigue loads due to the accumulation of ice on wind turbine blades. 

Wind energy deployment in cold climates has, however, several advantages. Cold climates have higher wind speeds and air density, which can increase the energy production of wind turbines. Cold climate regions often have low population densities, which makes it easier to find suitable sites for wind farms without affecting local communities. Last but not least, wind energy deployment in cold climates can create jobs and stimulate local economies. These factors have contributed to steady growth in the cold climate wind energy market share during the recent years.

Since 2001, an International Energy Agency task force (IEA Task 54, formerly Task 19) has been dedicated to outlining roadmaps and aligning activities across European, North American, and Asian players in cold climate wind energy research and development. The group's work will form the basis for new international standards in this area through the publication of recommendations and reports, increasing the competitiveness of wind and accelerating the replacement of fossil fuels.

Among other activities, the IEA Task 19 (54) has developed an open-source model called T19IceLossMethod for assessing wind turbine ice loss. The T19IceLossMethod is a standardized tool that can be used to detect and quantify the impact of icing on wind turbine performance. The ice loss tool is designed to help wind turbine manufacturers and operators better understand the impact of icing on turbine performance and to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of icing. 
The task is currently working on releasing another tool for aerodynamic calculations of ice fall and ice throw from standstill and operating turbines under icing conditions. Both tools are used to assess the relative production losses and throw distances due to icing events under different weather and icing conditions. 

To provide awareness and calls for action across the wider community, this presentation provides a state-of-the-art overview of the past and current activities in the cold climates sub-community of the wind energy industry. The presentation covers areas of importance such as icing losses, ice throw risks from turbines, and the state of the art in anti-deicing systems and methods, and briefly touches upon relevant guidelines and regulations. 

Presenting Author: Hamid Sarlak Technical University of Denmark

Presenting Author Biography: Hamid Sarlak is an associate professor of fluid mechanics and the Director for Education and Trainings at the DTU-TotalEnergies Center of Excellence in Clean Elergy at the Technical University of Denmark. His research interests include computational and experimental fluid dynamics (CFD) with a focus on onshore and offshore wind and wind energy in cold climates.

Authors:

Hamid Sarlak Technical University of Denmark