EOLIAN blades will feature an embedded structural health monitoring (SHM) technology to continuously monitor the condition of the blade and enable the real-time detection of defects or damage.

This offers several key benefits.

• Early detection of damage: fast repair prevents small problems from escalating into major issues.
• Reduced downtime: SHM helps reduce unplanned downtime. Blades can be scheduled for maintenance during periods of lower wind activity, minimising impact on energy production.
• Optimised maintenance: SHM data allows for more targeted and efficient maintenance, when and where it’s needed, optimising use of resources and minimising costs.
• Improved safety: Early detection of structural issues enhances the safety of wind turbines, helping to prevent catastrophic failures.
• Extended blade lifespan: Effective SHM can contribute to prolonging the lifespan of wind turbine blades by enabling timely repairs and maintenance, thus reducing the need for frequent replacements.
• Data-driven insights: SHM generates a wealth of data that can be used for analysing long-term trends, optimising designs, and making informed decisions about future wind turbine installations.

Read more about the project’s objectives.