Planned intervention as a maintenance and repair strategy for offshore wind turbines

The UK is planning to develop a significant offshore wind turbine power generation capacity to contribute towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generating sector. The maintenance and repair of high numbers of offshore wind turbines represents a major challenge to ensure a reliable yet cost effective source of electricity. This paper examines 'planned intervention' as a possible operation and maintenance (O&M) strategy for large offshore wind farms. Computer-aided simulation employing the Monte Carlo method is used to examine the planned intervention maintenance strategy in terms of wind farm availability, cumulative energy output and production cost of energy.