Mactwin regularly provides wind farms with security measures, for example to minimize the risk of unwanted visitors. For example, we install cameras that monitor access to the wind turbines or keep an overview of the immediate surroundings. However, security cameras can also be used for other purposes, such as monitoring the operation of the wind turbines.
Erik van Hoogdalem, a specialist in securing wind and solar farms, explains that in addition to cameras around the site and cameras above the access door of a wind turbine, Mactwin also installs cameras on top of the nacelle of wind turbines. Technical teams and wind turbine operators use these cameras to remotely monitor the performance of the turbines or to check for ice buildup on the rotor blades. Furthermore, the footage is also used to observe maintenance work remotely, and sometimes the quite spectacular camera images are displayed on a website for stakeholders of the wind turbines.
Robust camera for extreme conditions at high altitude
Not every camera is suitable to be installed on top of a wind turbine nacelle. “At over 100 meters high, the conditions are extreme. There are large temperature fluctuations and strong winds. Rain and salt buildup can also negatively affect the camera. Therefore, a camera placed on top of a wind turbine must have the right specifications,” Erik van Hoogdalem explains. “The camera we’ve selected is specifically designed to withstand these harsh conditions.”
Efficient remote management
The cameras high up on the wind turbine significantly simplify the management of wind turbines. Operators need to ascend far less frequently, and the turbines don’t need to be stopped. This saves time and costs. Erik van Hoogdalem adds, “We can also remotely manage and maintain the cameras themselves to a large extent. We connect the cameras to the Mactwin Operation Center (MOC). From the Mactwin Operation Center, we monitor the camera’s performance, image quality, and recording capacity daily. Many adjustments, such as configuration changes, can be made remotely from the MOC.”
Super zoom camera for monitoring ice build-up from the ground
Recently, we also selected a camera – after extensive testing – to monitor the rotor blades for ice build-up from the ground. This pan-tilt zoom (PTZ) camera has a large optical zoom range, allowing us to inspect the rotor blades in detail from over 700 meters away.”
Tailored advice
The cameras specifically selected for this application are, in most cases, an excellent choice. Depending on your situation and preferences, we can also choose other cameras. This depends on your requirements, objectives, and the conditions at the location.Feel free to contact us if you would like to know what the possibilities are for your wind turbines!