Blade Operations And Maintenance Forum

Registration And Refreshments 

Chair's Opening Remarks 

Guillermo Lozano, Blade Engineer, E.ON

Panel: What Should A Good Blade Inspection Program Look Like To Reduce Excess Future Expenditure?

• What kind of inspections do most wind farms require and how does yours differ?
• Depending on the wind farm, location, weather conditions, age and blade materials which part of the blade needs the most attention?
• Given the variables is it better to keep in house or outsource inspection work?
• How is it best to deal with the data gleaned from inspections and how should you respond to damage and the need for upkeep ?
• What future innovations do we see becoming standard and how can they assist in O&M of blades? e.g. infrared technology and automation  

Moderator:   Guillermo Lozano,  Blade Engineer,  E.ON

Panel Participants:

Daniel Molyneux, Blades Manager, Vestas

Jian Lahir, Blade Engineer, EDPR

Phillip Gauthier, Lead Fleet Engineer, EDF Renewable Energy

Josh Paquette,  Principle Member-Technical Staff,  Sandia

Networking Break And Morning Refreshments 

Let The Blade Data Talk!

• Collecting and structuring blade data: how do you aggregate blade inspection and repair data coming from different suppliers?

• Analyze and observe the data: how do you measure the quality of the inspection images you receive? What defects do you have on your blades? How do you make efficient O&M blade decisions thanks to data?

• Leverage your blade data: how machine learning makes your life easier

Thibault Gouache, CEO, Cornis

Reducing Down Time Using A Combination Of Inspection Methods

• What is the payoff using a combination of inspections?
• Where are drones, ground-based cameras, rope access and on-site technicians best utilized?
• Optimizing various methods of inspection for an efficient O&M program
• What is the value proposition for each inspection method?

Daniel Molyneux, Blades Manager, Vestas

R&D Demonstrations Of Ground Based Inspection And Monitoring Using The Sabre System

• How the digital wind sabre system works
• An update on the field applications of technology and results gained so far
• Perspectives on implementation of longer term blade inspection programs

John T Lindberg, Program Manager - NDE Innovation, Electric Power Research Institute

Structural Enhancement Technologies For Blades - A Different Approach To Repairs

• Remove root cause for damage – avoid repeated repairs

• Reduce O&M cost for blades by utilizing innovative solutions

• Repair vs. preventive solutions

• Case study and test: D-Stiffener™

Andrei Buliga, Project Manager - Structural Engineer, Bladena

Networking Lunch

Integrating Data Technologies Into The Blade Service Quality Process 

• Details of the web based application and where work instructions are uploaded

• Why work instructions have stop points where data input is mandatory

• Using repair reports automatically created from data input

• Similarities and differences of blade inspection reports

• How artificial intelligence could be used to determine damage type and severity

Benjamin Müller, Project Manager, WindCom

Why The Big Issue: How Does Icing Affect The Aerodynamic Performance Of A Blade?

Closing the Loop: How Lessons Learned in the Field Inform Blade Engineering & Manufacturing

• The critical role that common industry blade design and manufacturing practices have on operational experience and reliability.  
• Dealing with lightning damage leading Edge Erosion, Catastrophic Debonding Failures and Catastrophic Laminate Wrinkle Failures
• Which design and manufacturing choices can increase and decrease the likelihood of these failures
• What can operators do to reduce the risk from failure-prone designs
• What are the best approaches to repairs to avoid repeat damage and failures
• Will the industry evolve to higher blade reliability?
• The 3 things every developer/owner should ask for in their turbine supply agreement to make their life easier

Dr. Kyle K Wetzel, Founder, Wetzel Wind Energy Services

Networking Break And Afternoon Refreshments

Speed Networking

Realizing the importance of connecting with your peers, we organized a moderated networking session where delegates are prompted to meet others in brief 3/4 minute rounds. The moderator will be keeping track of time and announcing participants when to switch partners.

Make sure you bring lots of business cards along with you!

Topical Roundtables And Drinks

Delegates will select one of the following peer-to-peer discussions from the strategic or technical streams listed below. You will need to move into small break-out groups where discussions will be off the record and led by an expert on the given topic.  The discussions will be informal and open with drinks served whilst they take place.

Delegates are encouraged to bring along their considered ideas and questions in order to facilitate a meaningful and in-depth discussion whilst keeping with the relaxed tone.

STREAM 1: STRATEGIC

A. The Need For Real Data Standardization On Blade Damages

Host:  Thibault Gouache ,  CEO,  Cornis

B. Why Is Dependency On Manufacturers Holding Back Advancement?

Host:  Jim Platts,  Senior Teaching Associate,  University Of Cambridge

C. Opportunities For OPEX Reduction Post Warranty: How Will Consolidation Of Supply Chains Affect Asset Management for Blades

Host:  Sandeep Sharma, Senior Manager - Renewables, Capital Power 

STREAM 2: TECHNICAL

A. How Best Can The Industry Create A Collective Standard On Blade Quality?

Host:  Santhosh Krishna Chandrabalan,   Global Business Manager – Wind Energy,  3M

B. How To Prove The Benefits Of A Repair And Retrofit On Power Performance

Host:  Don Cowan, Sales Manager,  EDF Renewable Energy

C. Brainstorm: What Could Condition Monitoring For Blades Look Like?

Host:  Gary Kanaby, Commercial Manager,  WindCom

Roundtable Feedback

Delegates return to the main plenary room to hear the discussion leaders sharing the main outcomes of the sessions

Chair's Closing Remarks

Guillermo Lozano,  Blade Engineer,  E.ON

End Of Day 1