ITER and UPV complete the installation of the AERO-TWIN system in three wind turbines to validate its performance in real conditions
The project aims to optimise the maintenance and efficiency of wind farms through artificial intelligence and advanced sensor systems
The Technological Institute and Renewable Energies (ITER), an entity under the Tenerife Cabildo, has completed the installation of intelligent sensors in three wild turbines at the ITER wind farm MADE, located in Granadilla de Abona, together with Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). This initiative marks the beginning of the testing phase in real conditions for the AERO-TWIN project, which aims to validate new technologies for the early detection of faults in key components of wind turbines.
The AERO-TWIN project (CPP2021-008519) has a total budget of €482,239.66 and is co-funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency (10.13039/501100011033), and the European Union through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – NextGenerationEU.
The technical team from UPV travelled to Tenerife at the beginning of last month to carry out the integration of the system in the three selected wind turbines of the MADE wind farm, alongside the ITER team. The sensors will allow for continuous monitoring of the turbine operation, recording key parameters for the early detection of anomalies and improving energy performance.
The selection of the wind turbines was made after a prior analysis of vibrations and the state of the oil in the components, allowing for the selection of units in good condition, but with potential to show signs of wear during the testing period. This will enable validation of the system’s effectiveness in predicting defects before they impact performance.
The councillor for Innovation, Research and Development, Juan José Martínez, explains that “ITER continues to drive innovation in the field of wind energy with the development of the AERO-TWIN project. This initiative’s main objective is the development of a comprehensive monitoring system for wind turbines based on non-intrusive sensors, digital twins, and artificial intelligence techniques, which allows for the detection of possible faults in their components, predicting their evolution, and optimising maintenance.”
“With projects like AERO-TWIN, ITER reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation and sustainability, contributing to the development of more efficient and resilient infrastructure for the future energy landscape of the Canary Islands,” adds Martínez. In this regard, this experimental phase, which will extend for approximately three months, will allow for the evaluation of the system’s reliability in a real environment and establish the foundations for future implementation in other wind farms.
Features of AERO-TWIN
AERO-TWIN combines artificial intelligence technologies, predictive analytics, and advanced sensing to develop intelligent maintenance solutions for wind turbines, aiming to extend their lifespan, reduce operating costs, and improve the efficiency of renewable generation systems. The advantages of this technology include continuous monitoring, advanced data analysis, and predictive maintenance.
Continuous monitoring allows for real-time awareness of the state and performance of the wind turbines, while advanced data analysis facilitates visual interpretation of information, helping to detect behavioural patterns and potential anomalies. Finally, through the early identification of possible faults, maintenance tasks are optimised, and the lifespan of the equipment is extended.
