The upgrade spans six different Vestas models and is expected to enable the turbines to produce 13.5GWh per year, the manufacturer stated.
With its PowerPlus programme, Vestas can increase a turbine’s energy production and efficiency through site-specific optimisation of operational parameters, intelligent software algorithms or enhanced aerodynamic performance, it stated.
The upgrade will be applied to Ikea’s portfolio of Vestas turbines in the United States, Sweden, France and Poland. The portfolio includes the V80-2.0MW, V90-2.0MW, V90-3.0MW, V100-2.0MW, V112-3.0MW and V112-3.3MW models.
Mariel Alexandra Garrido Urena, Vestas’ head of fleet optimisations, explained that the Power Plus programme consisted of a range of software and hardware upgrades.
In either case, the upgrade would be preceded by analysis of the site, and each turbine’s "health" and operational behaviour, she said. Vestas would then consult with the operator about which upgrades were most appropriate and when would be best to carry out the update.
Generally speaking, software updates could be performed faster, while hardware changes take longer as Vestas would need to order the necessary parts and then schedule the maintenance to coincide with low-production periods and safe conditions for carrying out the work, Urena explained.
"With PowerPlus, the objective is to optimise energy production through retrofitting software and hardware," she added.
"The real value here is that while we may use the best technology at the time, climatic conditions can change dramtically, and you can always improve."
Ikea aims to balance its energy consumption with renewable energy production by 2020.
It owns wind farms in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Ireland, Canada, the US, France, Finland, its native Sweden and the UK.
Canada
Vestas has also received from an order from independent power producer Capital Power Corporation for 56 of its V136-3.45 turbines delivered in 3.6MW power optimised mode.
The turbines will be installed at Capital Power’s 201.6MW Whitla wind farm in south-east Alberta.
Whitla was selected as one of four projects by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) in the western province’s first renewable energy auction last year.
Turbine delivery will begin in the second quarter of 2019 and commissioning is scheduled for the third quarter.
The manufacturer will also supply and commission the turbines and then carry out operations and maintenance (O&M) at the site.
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