Wind Turbine Inspection Services
Internal & External Blade Inspections for a complete view of your asset.
The need for a holistic view of your wind turbine blades is critical to making proper decisions about maintenance and repair operations. An operator can sleep better at night understanding that they are in control of developing blade risk. Inspections can be reactive or proactive, and WPL targets the latter, with proper planning to support your operations safely, efficiently, and in the most cost-effective manner.
Who is this service for?
Our inspection services are designed to support owners and operators in the wind industry.
WPL uses in-house technicians, third party providers, and the client’s own inspection data collection to achieve crucial insights and identification of internal and external blade defects eligible for repair.
Why use WPL Inspection Services?
Enable control of current and developing blade defect risk, allowing for better future planning and blade defect risk mitigation. Avoid unnecessary lost production due to too broad repair scope, reducing downtime.
Situation
Possible transportation damages to 18 blades ready for install.
Complication
Client has to cut open all 18 blades at 45 metre mark to verify if the blades are OK for installation (no human inspection is possible from the inside).
Solution
WPL internal inspection to verify if defects are present for the installation process to continue.
Identification of internal and external blade defects eligible for repair
Input for blade repair campaign planning scope, duration, and urgency
Overview of defects and blade risks on turbines, highlighting mitigating actions.
Documentation of areas inside blades that are not possible to reach with technicians.
Superior data coverage, as all surfaces are inspected.
Gain a complete view of the condition of the existing blade assets.
Internal Blade Inspections
Some blade defects are only visible on the inside of a wind turbine blade. As a result, internal blade inspections will have to be carried out to identify delaminated areas, flash overs, and other defect types.
Classically, internal blade inspections were carried out by teams of technicians holding confined space certificates and specialized training. The HSE, efficiency, and advanced accuracy alternative, is drone based internal blade inspections. This methodology provides greater data coverage, and documentation of all internal blade surfaces and joints that are accessible – down to 50cm diameter.
External Blade Inspections
WPL enables our clients to collect external inspection data in the method that best suits their operational strategy. Our in-house specialists can collect data for you, or Wind Power LAB can build scopes and act as a lead with trusted external inspection service providers. We have scoured the market to align with the best options we can find – depending on geographic location.
Some of our client’s self-perform external blade inspections utilizing drones – when they have time and resources available. We support our clients in planning the work and increase their capability in obtaining the best possible imagery and video materials. Our clients then upload data onto our cloud platform for processing where we turn the inspection images into repair work orders and OPEX budgets, supporting our clients in executing data driven asset management strategies.