| Shock The cold challenge for wind turbines |
|
|
 O2's wind farm Bliekevare in Dorotea Municipality.
Sweden may have the world's first center for research and testing of vindkaft in cold climates. Five northern municipalities competing to build wind power equivalent of automotive winter testing in Arvidsjaur.
We are looking for a place where the probability of icing is over 90
percent - every year. There must be an average wind speed of about 7
meters per second at 100 meters, says Rapp, President of the Swedish
Wind Power Technology Center Swptc, which has its headquarters at
Chalmers in Gothenburg.
Swptc at Chalmers with Vindforsk and Power Circle has produced a preliminary study of what is needed for building a permanent test center for wind energy in cold climate in Sweden.
Apart from cold and wind, the test facility be relatively close to an airport and have roads that can withstand heavy traffic.
The five northern municipalities that may be relevant, Lulea, Pitea, Storuman, Sorsele and Arjeplog.
The model is Arjeplog who managed to build a world-renowned test center for cars in cold climates.
Each winter streams test drivers and engineers from the world to the small northern municipality to run their cars in winter.
Now hope Rapp on similar success for vindkraften.
The idea is that we will find a place where we can build a number of
stable base plate and pull the power. Since manufacturers may haul its
towers and turbines to the site and put them up for testing, says Rapp.
The plans also include a number of measuring gains in front of wind
turbines, a building that will house workstations, conference rooms and
hotel rooms.
Maybe we will also build some wind turbines that will be there permanently and generate revenue, says Rapp.
He estimates the cost to 15 million to build the test plates. Addition, there are ongoing operations.
But before it becomes reality, it will do a market survey to see how
many of the world's manufacturers who may be interested in coming to
Northern Sweden to test their turbines.
The first test of the project could come as early as next week for the
international wind energy conference Winter Wind in Skelleftea.
It receives wind energy experts and companies from around the world to discuss problems and opportunities with wind turbines in cold climates.
Among other things, six turbine manufacturers to present their programs
on de-icing of rotor blades. Icing and iskast is a major problem for
wind farms in the north.
In Norrland, it will in 15-20 years will be three times as many wind
turbines in Sweden - if all plans go through. It is about 6 000 new
wind turbines.
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
