How to repair wind turbine blades

How to repair a wind turbine blade?

Still, for the wind turbine blades, where aerodynamic properties are of critical importance, flush repair is the most common structural repair technique. Structural flush repair is realized by forming a joint between prepared repair area and the repair patch, which should fit exactly the area prepared for repair.

How much does a wind turbine blade repair cost?

An average blade repair (offshore) can cost up to $30 000 (for onshore blades, it can be two times less) and a new blade costs, on average, about $200 000 ( Mishnaevsky and Thomsen, 2020; Stephenson, 2011 ). Maintenance of wind turbines is an important and also expensive part of the wind farm owner function.

Does structural repair of damaged wind turbine blades contribute to costs?

Repair and maintenance operations of wind turbines constitute a significant part of costs of wind energy. In this paper, technologies of structural repair of damaged wind turbine blades are reviewed. Costs of repair, and technological contribution to the costs are discussed.

Can new generation wind turbine blades be recycled?

The wind turbines of the new generation are subject to extreme mechanical and physical loading, can be damaged during service time, and will require maintenance and repair. In this paper, technologies for the repair and recycling of the new generation of materials for wind turbine blades are reviewed.

What happens if a wind turbine is damaged?

Suboptimal, defected repair can lead to eccentric load path, bending in the patch and stresses in the adhesive and composite, early failure of wind turbine blades and necessity of early follow-up repair.

How often do wind turbine blades need to be repaired?

Typically, wind turbine blades require repair after each 2–5 years , thus, creating the permanent factor of costs increase for wind energy industry. The wind operations and maintenance (O&M) market is expected to reach $27.4 billion by 2025 globally, with the compound annual growth rate of 8% .