TU Delft are part of an ambitious project to provide digital training materials for professionals and students working in the field of wind farm maintenance. The project is funded through the EU’s Erasmus+ programme and is a cooperation between leading universities, training companies and wind energy professionals. The project is led by the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE), with additional partners: Renewable Skills & Consultant GmbH, Germany, INESC TEC, Portugal, Tesicnor SA, Spain, Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha, Spain, University of Cyprus, and Universidad Tecnológica, Uruguay.
A detailed set of training tools, including electronic notes, 3D virtual reality simulators, quizzes, exercises and simulation software, has been developed in order for trainees to gain virtual ‘hands-on’ experience in the maintenance and operation of wind farms. The main aims of the project are:
- To develop digital tools for users to improve their skills in wind turbine maintenance
- To teach users about methods to evaluate the factors affecting loss of wind farm availability
- Provide users with ‘virtual’ hands-on training before going out on the field
- To give users knowledge about how to select the best procedures to maintain an operating wind turbine
- To learn about the most appropriate methods for the recycling or/and the reuse of the main components of a wind turbine
- To inform users of diagnostic procedures to evaluate the state of health of wind turbine components
- To train users in the logistics of spare component supply
- To inform users of business opportunities in wind farm maintenance
- To reinforce the knowledge in terms of commercial strategies to answer market needs in wind farm maintenance.
The project is due to finish in early 2023 and the training materials are being ‘beta-tested’ at present by different stakeholder groups within the countries of the project participants.
More details concerning the project can be found at: www.windext.com.