Wind turbines are highly complex devices that require regular maintenance, monitoring and diagnostics to convert wind into electrical energy.
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) was recently honored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for innovative operations at our Oso Grande Wind project, a 250-megawatt site in southeast New Mexico that opened in 2021.
EPRI, an independent, nonprofit energy R&D institute, presented TEP with one of its 2024 Technology Transfer Awards, recognizing leaders who make electricity more reliable, efficient, affordable, safe, and environmentally responsible. TEP’s award recognizes the team’s work in digitalizing our renewable energy assets on site, standardizing data and implementing automated health monitoring.
Here are three ways we’re working to enhance our wind project performance.
Fine tuning our equipment: If a turbine’s alignment is not directly into the wind, even by a degree or two, it will miss out on potential production. Software that enhances data visibility across our 62 turbines allows our wind team to react quickly to performance gaps compared to neighboring turbines and recalibrate blade alignment to get the most power from our equipment.
Preventive Maintenance: What’s true of a car engine or an air conditioning unit also applies to wind turbines: Fixing minor problems promptly prevents them from becoming major problems. At Oso Grande, we consolidate all turbine data in one location and monitor factors including temperature, pressure and vibration, helping us identify problems early and improve overall system reliability.
Case in point: When we found one of our 62 units operating at a higher temperature than nearby turbines, we traced it back to a faulty sensor. The turbine was taken out of service while corrections were made that prevented a potential future failure.
The EPRI award could convince other utilities to adopt TEP’s practices at Oso Grande.
“We were surprised and honored to be recognized with a technology transfer award,” said Michael Bryan, Asset Manager of the Oso Grande project. “We were just trying to be good stewards of our customers’ investment in this resource and it translated into this recognition.”
Sustainability: One challenge for wind projects is what to do with the blades at the end of their useful lives, given that they are 200 feet in length and weigh 20 tons each. In alignment with sustainability goals, the team identified a recycling solution that shreds the blades into small fibers for other uses. For example, some are mixed into concrete to make it stronger. The project began this summer, and three blades have been processed.
Gary Gardner, Predictive Maintenance Supervisor, said the team was honored to be nominated for the award. “I think this demonstrates TEP’s commitment to continuous innovation in ensuring that our equipment operates optimally.”
Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of EPRI, congratulated the team on its achievement. “TEP’s dedication to advancing energy technology and innovation highlights its leadership in applying transformative solutions to real-world challenges,” he said. “This accomplishment underscores the importance of collaboration in successfully implementing groundbreaking projects. TEP’s leadership continues to inspire innovation and progress across the energy industry.”
