- Typhoon Yagi generated wind speeds exceeding 72.22 m/s, which significantly surpasses the design limits of contemporary wind turbines.
- The storm severely impacted the Wenchang Wind Power Plant, a project which was undergoing upgrades by Huaneng Hainan Company who were replacing 32 ageing turbines with 16 new, typhoon-resistant models.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 234km per hour (145 miles per hour), Yagi stands as the second-most powerful tropical cyclone of 2024, trailing only behind Category 5 Atlantic hurricane Beryl, and marking the strongest storm to impact China in the past 75 years. The storm, which made landfall in Wenchang city’s Mulan Gulf, brought with it ferocious gales and torrential rain, resulting in significant power outages, four fatalities and injuries to 95 others
Extreme weather events can have a major impact on the stability and structural integrity of both onshore and offshore wind turbines. The increase in such events brings into question the structural resilience and health of wind turbines designed and installed a decade or more ago.
Reset required
Through the optimization of structure and material, the resistance of a wind turbine blade and tower can be enhanced. The calculation accuracy of the ultimate load and failure mode should be reset to balance the safety and economy of wind turbines.
The characteristics of the high wind speed and varying wind directions in an extreme weather event, brings the combined control strategy of the pitch, yawing, and braking into play to effectively improving the survival ability of wind turbines.
Existing wind farms need to up their game by establishing early warning and management systems to limit structural damage and maintain operational efficiency. Simulation modelling on severe extreme weather impact on plant can also be carried and if necessary, upgrades made.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
