Wind Power Operations
August 22nd, 2009
Wind Power Operations - click here
How long will it take to construct the wind park, and when would it become operational?
How much maintenance do wind turbines require?
Can turbines operate in a hurricane or nor’easter?
How long will it take to construct the wind park, and when would it become operational?
The process of planning, verification, permitting, and construction takes approximately two years and involves dozens of state and Federal agencies. For more details on the process and what is involved at each stage, view our timeline.
How much maintenance do wind turbines require?
Modern wind turbines require very little maintenance, typically less than 48 hours of maintenance per year. It’s important to note that a wind park is essentially numerous individual power plants; when one or two turbines are down for maintenance, the rest continue to generate electricity. That’s different from a fossil fuel powered plant, when the entire facility is taken offline - often for many weeks - during maintenance or equipment failure. All of the turbines are monitored continuously, assuring that any downtime for the turbines is minimized.
Can turbines operate in a hurricane or nor’easter?
Modern wind turbines are engineered to withstand the stress of extremely high winds and will remain standing, even in a hurricane-force storm. In the most extreme winds, sophisticated microprocessors automatically stop the turbine and position the blades so that they can safely ride out the storm. Once the strongest winds have passed, the wind park resumes operation.
