Mactwin regularly provides wind farms with security measures, for example to minimize the risk of unwanted visitors. We install cameras that monitor access to the wind turbines or provide oversight of the immediate surroundings. However, security cameras can also be deployed for other purposes, such as monitoring the operation of the wind turbines.
Specialist in securing wind and solar farms, Erik van Hoogdalem, 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 operation of the turbines or to check for ice formation on the rotor blades. Additionally, the footage is also used to remotely observe during maintenance work, and sometimes the – quite spectacular – camera footage is displayed on a website for wind turbine stakeholders.
Robust camera for extreme conditions at high altitude
Not every camera is suitable for placement on top of a wind turbine nacelle. “At over 100 meters height, conditions are extreme. There are large temperature variations and strong winds. Rain and salt deposits can also negatively affect the camera. Therefore, a camera on top of a wind turbine must have the right specifications,” explains Erik van Hoogdalem. “The camera we have selected is specifically designed to withstand these harsh conditions.”
Efficient remote management
The cameras high on the wind turbine make wind turbine management considerably easier. Operators need to go up much less frequently, and wind turbines do not need to be shut down. This saves time and costs. Erik van Hoogdalem: “We can also largely manage and maintain the cameras themselves remotely. For this, we connect the cameras to the Mactwin Operation Center (MOC). From the Mactwin Operation Center, we monitor the operation, image quality, and recording capacity of the cameras daily. Many adjustments, for example in configuration, can also be made from the MOC.”
Super zoom camera for monitoring ice build-up from the ground
“Recently, we have also selected a camera – after extensive testing – to monitor the rotor blades for ice formation 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 requirements, we can also select other cameras. This depends on your needs, objectives, and the local situation and conditions. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know what the possibilities are for your wind turbines!