SkySpecs
Canvas Category Software : Information Technology : Asset Performance Management
Using machine learning, robotics, and software, SkySpecs optimizes the operations and maintenance of the renewable energy industry to enable better data driven decision making. Their mission is to continue driving change in the renewable energy sector with technology and automation that minimizes unplanned downtime and increases total production, making renewable energy more accessible to the world.
Assembly Line
Assessing wind turbine performance upgrades using only 10-minute SCADA data
Wind turbine operators and owners are presented a range of performance enhancing retrofit options by OEMs and third parties. Such offerings are accompanied by specific details of the expected performance improvements in terms of AEP (Annual Energy Production).
The SkySpecs Performance team started by collecting 10-minute SCADA data before and after the installation of the retrofits to evaluate the impact on wind turbine performance. For accuracy, they aimed for a timeframe of 12 months or more before and 6 months or more after the installation. Then, using only the 10 minute database, they automatically filtered out periods of abnormal turbine operating using state detection algorithms to ensure strict filtering and optimal data quality without the need for event logs.
When using SCADA data for portfolio-level analysis, it is almost impossible to obtain calibration reports and mounting information for each sensor of each turbine. In many cases, sensors such as nacelle anemometers and temperature sensors do not even undergo any traceable calibration. Due to these limitations, it is not possible to perform a full propagation of uncertainties (Type A+B) in a SCADA- based analysis.
Fully automated, physics-based analysis of SCADA temperature signals for Drivetrain Monitoring
The SkySpecs Performance team has demonstrated that physics-based models can be used to model the thermal response of components inside the wind turbine with full transparency, low complexity, and high accuracy. By using this approach, a number of faults can be detected across a wind turbine portfolio, including gearbox, main bearing, and generator damage.
The rate of change of body temperature is then calculated using a thermal inertia coefficient, calculated for each individual turbine. All coefficients are trained using reference datasets from relatively short time periods, and used to predict future temperature responses of the same components. Prediction and measurement are finally compared to produce residual values, which in turn were used to detect the presence of component faults.
Using Robotics and AI to Optimize Wind Operations and Maintenance
Before harnessing AI, most wind turbines required individual assessments to make repairs and general maintenance. Often these inspections would take hours of downtime, costing a fortune for wind farm owners. However, as robotics and AI have become more popular in the renewables sector, owners and operators are now able to have a more granular view of their assets. Coupled with cloud-based tools, faults, defects and other concerns can be detected and monitored before they cripple your fleet.
SkySpecs’ Horizon CMS Platform Uses AI to Boost Wind Turbine Condition Monitoring
With the launch of SkySpecs’ Horizon CMS platform, wind turbine operators can now unlock the full potential of their fleet data in order to lower O&M cost and focus on optimizing for maximum uptime. The Advanced Condition Monitoring Platform is enhanced with Kaleidoscope AI - a cutting-edge fault detection technology that uses AI for early and robust fault detection of critical drivetrain components like gearboxes, generators and main bearings. The Horizon CMS platform is disrupting the software paradigm that engineers have relied on for over a decade.
SkySpecs Accelerates Growth with $80 Million Strategic Investment led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management
SkySpecs, a Michigan-based provider of renewable energy O&M solutions, announced today that it has closed an $80 million strategic capital raise led by the Sustainable Investing business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management (Goldman Sachs) with additional participation from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources and other existing SkySpecs investors including, Statkraft Ventures, Equinor Ventures, Evergy Ventures, UL Ventures and Huron River Ventures. SkySpecs provides service and software solutions to make renewable energy the most efficient power source in the world. The new funding will help SkySpecs accelerate the expansion of their software offerings by leveraging their existing foundation of automated high quality data collection and analytics, as well as grow its geographic footprint in order to advance its mission to optimize renewable performance and help displace fossil fuel generation.or manufacturing that Tignis is undertaking is of particular importance to the US market, to re-establish competitiveness and leadership in this industry.”