How to evaluate turbine power curve performance losses
The impact of turbulence intensity on wind turbine performance is significant, yet there is no consensus on its precise impact on energy yield. To address these uncertainties, wind turbine manufacturers incorporate safety margins into warranted power curves, which can lead to substantial financial implications for wind projects. 3E has developed a simple yet robust method to model the influence of turbulence intensity on wind turbine power curves, with the aim of comparing with the approach used by manufacturers. In this article, we introduce a method for evaluting turbine performance losses, distinguishing between losses site-specific and generic power curve losses. This method is implemented in our Wind Analytics application to monitor the performance of wind turbines, and is also used by our Advisory Services to estimate performance losses in pre-construction energy yield studies.