RAINBOW

The RAINBOW project aims to gain more insight into the erosion of rotor blades due to precipitation and lightning, as erosion causes significant production losses.  This should provide new possibilities for preventive maintenance and improved strategies for inspection, maintenance and repair.

To this end, the project partners are committed to thorough monitoring of the turbines and energy yields on one hand, and automated inspection of rotor blades with drones on the other hand. Based on the results, coatings and other protection materials will be tested and validated under realistic North Sea conditions.

All this will also make it possible to better predict the service life of wind turbines and better prepare and schedule inspection flights with drones. This will eventually result in a longer service life of wind turbines and a drastic reduction in inspection, maintenance and repair costs.

Better risk management of erosion and damage to the rotor blades will contribute to a higher energy yield, as well as lower and more competitive energy prices.