Background/Motivation

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) is a nonprofit research institution, located in North Cape, PEI, that has been leading wind energy research in Canada since 1981. WEICan has been operating five 2 MW DeWind D9.2 wind turbines since Spring 2013.

WEICan’s site features 300^o exposure to the water, which results in harsh, corrosive conditions, wind with low turbulence, and high average wind speeds of 8.9 m/s at 80 m. WEICan also experiences large winter-summer temperature differences and several icing events every year. The capacity factor of WEICan’s turbines averages 45% yearly, with some winter months seeing average capacity factors near 70%.

WEICan has had structural issues with their blades since commissioning. A timeline of these issues and their remedies are outlined in the timeline below:

• Fall 2013
  • Blade inspection found cracks in bonding seams and delamination near roots at the suction side. Repairs were undertaken
• Summer 2014
  • Further inspections identified root core delamination
• 2015/16
  • Blades were run through a deration and ultimate failure test at a test facility. They identified the same issues with delamination that WEICan experienced.
• 2016
  • Blades were reinforced on the low-pressure side.
  • WEICan purchased 3 spare blades which were also reinforced according to the specifications.
  • WEICan bought 12 more blades, which were not reinforced.
• Summer 2020
  • Inspection found a crack near the root at the pressure side of one blade on Turbine 5 (T5). This blade was replaced with a repaired blade and the rotor was rebalanced.
• Summer 2023
  • Began repairs on three more spare blades
• Fall 2024
  • Inspection found four blades with cracks near the root on the pressure side; two were on T4 and two were on T5.
  • Reinforcement on the low-pressure side was completed on three spare blades and blades were installed on T4.
  • Splints were added to initial three spare blades to reinforce the high-pressure, trailing side. These blades are on T5
  • The six removed blades remain on the ground on the WEICan site.

A summary of the status of the blades on WEICan’s turbines is shown in the table below:

Turbine	Blade	Blade Commissioned	Low-pressure side repair	High-pressure side repair
1	Blades 1-3	2013	2016	None
2	Blades 1-3	2013	2016	None
3	Blades 1-3	2013	2016	None
4	Blades 1-3	2024	2023-24	None
5	Blade 1	2020	2016	2024
	Blade 2	2024	2016	2024
	Blade 3	2024	2016	2024
4 (ground)	Blades 1-3	2013 (operated for 11 years)	2016	None
5 (ground)	Blades 1-3	2013 (blade 1 operated for 7 years, blades 2 &3 operated for 11 years)	2016	None

Blade Health Monitoring

Monitoring wind turbine blades is important for early detection of potential failures to optimize maintenance schedules and minimize downtime. A variety of structural health monitoring (SHM) and non-destructive evaluation methods have been developed to assess damage caused to wind turbine blades.

Blade structural health monitoring options typically involve using sensors like strain gauges, piezoelectric transducers, fiber optic sensors, or acoustic emission sensors to detect changes in vibration, strain, temperature, and acoustic signals on a blade, allowing for early detection of damage including cracks, delamination, or erosion, enabling preventative maintenance and extending the lifespan of the blade.

Key blade structural health monitoring methods include:

• Strain gauge-based monitoring: Attaching strain gauges directly to the blade surface to measure strain levels under load, indicating potential damage areas.
• Piezoelectric sensors (acoustic emission): Detecting tiny stress waves generated by micro-cracks or delamination within the blade material.
• Fiber optic sensors: Embedding optical fibers within the blade to measure strain and temperature changes along the blade length, offering high sensitivity and distributed sensing capabilities.
• Vibration monitoring: Using accelerometers to measure blade vibrations, which can reveal changes in the blade’s dynamic behavior due to damage.
• Ultrasonic testing: Utilizing ultrasonic waves to detect internal flaws or defects within the blade material.
• Visual inspections: Regular visual inspections using drones or climbing technicians to identify surface damage.

Factors to consider when choosing a blade SHM system:

• Damage type: Different sensor technologies are more suited to detect specific types of damage, such as delamination, cracks, or erosion.
• Sensor placement: Strategically placing sensors at high-stress areas on the blade to maximize detection sensitivity.
• Environmental conditions: Selecting sensors that can withstand harsh weather and operating conditions.
• Data analysis capabilities: Implementing advanced signal processing algorithms to accurately identify and localize damage from sensor data.

Request for Expressions of Interest

WEICan is seeking proposals for innovative research using both its damaged and operating blades to advance wind energy operations.

WEICan Offers

• Available data sets:
  • SCADA
  • Ping acoustic sensors at the turbine base
  • Drone photographs and thermal images
  • Blade drawings/Repair instructions
• Access to up to five damaged wind turbine blades and non-destructive testing on up to 15 operating wind turbine blades
• Research expertise

To Apply

Submit a proposed statement of work by June 30, 2025, outlining

1. Planned use of the blades and its contribution to wind energy advancements, including a timeline of activities, and any proposed partners
2. Company Information, including contact information, name of project contact, and experience/qualifications to carry out the proposed work
3. Budget expectations and funding sources

EOIs will be evaluated based on:

1. Alignment with Project Objectives

The evaluation will assess whether the EOI demonstrates a clear understanding of the project’s goals and requirements, and how the proponent’s expertise and approach can address them. Preference will be given to EOIs that propose novel solutions or improvements over conventional approaches, demonstrate alignment with emerging trends, or introduce new insights, partnerships, or technologies related to blade monitoring. Preference will be given to proposals that have Canadian content.

2. Relevance and Quality of Experience

We will assess the proponent’s technical and management expertise, qualifications, and experience in delivering similar work. This includes prior projects with comparable organizations or within similar sectors. Consideration will also be given to the availability of appropriate resources (e.g., personnel, equipment) to successfully complete the work.

3. Financial Plan

The financial capacity of the proponent to manage and sustain the project will be reviewed. If external funding is required to undertake the work, this must be clearly stated in the EOI, along with any associated risks or contingencies.

Refer all questions and send all proposal materials to:

• Marianne Rodgers
• 902-882-2746 x207
• marianne.rodgers@weican.ca
• Wind Energy Institute of Canada
• 21741 Route 12, Tignish, PE C0B 2B0

WEICan Qualifications

For more than 40 years, WEICan has been leading wind industry research in Canada with a mission to advance the wind energy industry through research testing, innovation, and collaboration. WEICan has many highly qualified staff supporting their wind energy research. Our expert team includes CEO Scott Harper, who oversaw construction of the wind park and has coordinated dozens of R&D projects with industrial clients; Scientific Director Dr. Marianne Rodgers, who has been leading all research activities at WEICan for the past 11 years and has a more than 20 year history in renewable energy research; Manager of Operations Shawn Shea, who has been carrying out operations and maintenance in the wind industry for more than 20 years; and specialists in data analytics, decision support tools, and renewable energy systems.