Sustainable wind energy

A wind farm is a collection of at least three wind turbines or wind power plants in one place. They generate electricity from wind energy and can be built both onshore and offshore. Wind turbines can form a technical or organisational unit but can also be used by different operators. They are an important part of the energy transition as they generate environmentally friendly, renewable energy and neither produce greenhouse gases nor other harmful emissions. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or gas, on the other hand, are only available in limited quantities and contribute to air pollution. The energy generated by wind farms contributes to meeting the growing demand for energy.

A wind turbine consists of a turbine and a generator. The turbine is made up of rotor blades that rise into the air from a tower and rotate. The attached rotor blades are curved similarly to the wings of an airplane. This means that the wind must cover a longer distance on the upper side of the blades than on the lower side. This creates a negative pressure that converts the wind energy into mechanical energy. The generator connected to it then transforms this mechanical energy into electricity and feeds it into the power grid. The higher a wind power plant is, the more electricity can be generated, as the wind blows stronger and more evenly at higher altitudes.

In relation to wind turbines, electrical heat tracing is used in two different ways. On the one hand, it serves as frost protection for the battery blocks and the crankcase of the wind turbine, and on the other hand it is used to maintain the temperature needed for GRP hardening during rotor blade production.

The rotor blades of a wind turbine are often made of GRP. GRP is a plastic reinforced with glass fibres that is both very light and extremely robust. It is very durable, weatherproof and hail-resistant. The rotor blades are moulded in two and later assembled. To ensure that the GRP hardens in an optimum way, the mould is heated by means of electrical heat tracing. The heating process activates the material and introduces the drying process. The heating cable used is placed directly inside the mould. The two halves of the rotor blade are then joined together by means of wet laminate. To ensure that the materials can bond together in an optimum way, heated jackets are used for heating and temperature maintenance.

In addition, the eltherm heat tracing system is used on the wind turbine itself. As a wind turbine is installed at a certain height and is exposed to all weather conditions, the battery blocks and crankcase must be protected from frost in order to remain fully functional. The heating cables used ensure, among other things, that the hydraulic oil is kept at the optimum temperature. It must neither lose its viscosity and begin to harden nor become too warm, as this could damage the seals.