LARGE WIND TURBINES GO INTO COLD CLIMATE REGIONS

Cold climate and severe icing problems have to be faced when erecting wind turbines at mountainous or hilly inland sites at regions like northern Spain, Apennines in Italy, Southern France, Alps, mountainous areas in Germany, Scotland, large regions in the eastern Europe and the Nordic countries. Similar conditions at sites with good wind conditions will be also found in other regions and at other continents. Low air temperature and especially icing conditions create new demands for the design of wind turbines and their components, and also to wind energy assessment. Theoretical models have been produced to calculate e.g. loads and power production under icing conditions, and blade heating systems and ice free sensors are now available. However, well documented demonstrations and verifications of results achieved are still missing. They are urgently needed to increase and improve the exploitation of wind energy at cold climate regions.