Research has shown wind turbine blades are frequently struck by lightning and in some cases the same turbine is struck multiple times per year. Identifying which turbines were struck and when can lead to a targeted, more immediate inspection of the turbine blades vs. a broader, less timely approach of checking all turbines once per year. Identification of damage early is now easier than ever with new emerging technology like drones. Finding the damage can allow for quick repair while the expense is minor saving the costs of a major blade repair or replacement down the line.

1. #WindWebinar
New Methods for Accurately Detecting
Lightning Strikes to Turbines

2. #WindWebinar
q This webinar will be available afterwards at
www.windpowerengineering.com & email
q Q&A at the end of the presentation
q Hashtag for this webinar: #WindWebinar
Before We Start

3. #WindWebinar
Michelle Froese
Moderator
Windpower Engineering
& Development
Nic Wilson
Energy Regional Manager
Vaisala
Marty McKewon
Director of Business
Development, NA
Indji Systems
New Methods for Accurately Detecting Lightning Strikes to Turbines
Meet your presenters…

4. #WindWebinar
Agenda
• The Lightning Problem for Wind Turbines and the
Financial Impact
• Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Leveraging Your Findings with Emerging Technology
• Applying the Technology to Your Business

5. #WindWebinar
What if you could?
• Monitor the storm in real-
time in relation to assets ?
• Do a post storm analysis of
all lightning and see which
turbines were hit?
• Do a next day inspection
inexpensively ?
• Repair the minor damage
now and save $$$$ ?

6. #WindWebinar
The Lightning Problem – Financial Impact
• Lightning Damage =
Significant Financial Impact
1. Lightning strikes
account for 25% of loss
claims
2. Most damage occurs to
blades
3. Blade claims average
$240K

7. #WindWebinar
The Lightning Problem
• Lightning Frequency in the
United States.
• High Frequency in High Wind
Production Areas

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The Lightning Problem
• In high lightning areas the
likelihood for turbines to
be struck multiple times
increases
• Degradation occurs over
time
• Likelihood for damage
increases
Image from: “Overview of a Kansas Wind Farm 2013 Field Program.
Presented at the 23rd Annual Lightning Detection Conference, Tucson Arizona.

9. #WindWebinar
The Lightning Problem… What the Future will Bring?
• Turbine Height Trend
• 110-140 meter Turbines
are coming
• What does that mean for
the lightning problem?
• What does that mean for
wind production?

10. #WindWebinar
The Lightning Problem… What the Future will Bring?The Lightning Problem
• Wind production today
• Strong focus in the central
United States

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The Lightning Problem… What the Future will Bring?The Lightning Problem
• How improvements in
technology change the
future of wind production

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The Lightning Problem… What the Future will Bring?The Lightning Problem
• Greatest areas of growth
occur in geographic areas
with greatest
concentration of lightning!
• Now factor in even taller
turbines = increased
strikes and damage
• Climate change = more
lightning?

13. #WindWebinar
Tools for Identification
• NALDN and how it works.
• Accuracy
• Coverage

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How it works
• Detects the electromagnetic
frequencies emitted by
lightning
• Each sensor has a GPS
timer and magnetic direction
finder
• Data is sent to a central
processor and displayed
within 15 seconds of
occurrence

15. #WindWebinar
Accuracy & Coverage
• Precision (< 150 m location
accuracy and > 90%
detection efficiency) data is
available in 50+ countries
• Vaisala GLD360 now
provides (< 2 km location
accuracy and > 70%
detection efficiency) data
across the entire world

16. #WindWebinar
Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Ability to view event in
real-time
• Observe the event in
relation to your assets

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Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Ability to perform a post
event analysis
• Time is a short commodity
• Methods must be fast
• Must be simple

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Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Example of methods
available today
1. Selection of asset type

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Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Example of methods
available today
2. Select asset or wind farm

20. #WindWebinar
Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Example of methods
available today
3. Select the date and time

21. #WindWebinar
Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Example of methods
available today
4. Select a window of time
to analyze

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Tools for Identification and Analysis
• Example of methods
available today
4. Hit “Go” and within
seconds you have your
analysis!

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Interpreting the Results
• Did my turbine get hit?
• How strong was the
strike?
• What is polarity?

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Interpreting the Results
• Taking analysis a step
further.
1. Lightning Ellipse data
2. How is this useful?

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Interpreting the Results
• Daily reports can be
generated
• Keep an accounting of a
turbine struck repeatedly
• Valuable for collaborative
decisions

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Leveraging your Findings with Emerging Technology
• The inspection world will
change!
• The Drones are coming!

27. #WindWebinar
Leveraging your Findings with Emerging Technology
• Drones will make
inspections faster, easier
and cheaper.
• Drones will increase safety
of inspections!

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Leveraging your Findings with Emerging Technology
• 3rd party providers
1. growing list
• Do it yourself
• Inspections can be “on
demand”

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Applying the Technology to Your Business
• Analysis of Lightning Data
Matters!
1. Find 25-30% more
damaged blades
2. Early ID = lower repair
costs
3. Minimize turbine
downtime due to
focused inspections

30. #WindWebinar
Applying the Technology to Your Business
• Proven Solutions Exist
Today!
1. Simple, Fast and Easy
Methods for Post
Storm Analysis
2. Accurate Data to Make
Decisions
3. Invest Now, Save Later

31. #WindWebinar
What can you conclude?
• Lightning is a serious
problem
• Technological advances
will actually increase the
problem
• Accurate blade
inspections will become
more important
• Technology is available
today to mitigate the
impact of Lightning

32. #WindWebinar
Michelle Froese
Moderator
Windpower Engineering
& Development
mfroese@wtwhmedia.com
Nic Wilson
Energy Regional Manager
Vaisala
Nicholas.wilson@vaisala.com
Marty McKewon
Director of Business
Development, NA
Indji Systems
marty.mckewon@indji.net
New Methods for Accurately Detecting Lightning Strikes to Turbines
Questions?

33. #WindWebinar
Thank You
q This webinar will be available at
www.windpowerengineering.com & email
q Tweet with hashtag #WindWebinar
q Connect with Windpower Engineering & Development
q Discuss this on EngineeringExchange.com