Development of a wind turbine blade fault detection tool integrated into a maintenance plan

To better maintain a wind farm, it is essential to be able to link the findings of inspections to the resulting repairs. This is the central challenge of this project, carried out in collaboration with Cartier Énergie Éolienne and Collineo Inc.: integrating the telescope inspection and blade repair databases to establish a clear link between what is observed in the field and the resulting maintenance work.

This integration has made it possible to create a unified database linking inspection results to repairs performed on wind turbine blades. This work lays the groundwork for a more rigorous analysis of asset condition—a major challenge for wind farm owners and operators who must plan maintenance with precision and anticipate repair needs.

Beyond the data integration itself, the project identified concrete areas for improvement to maximize the analytical value of the collected information. Three recommendations emerged from this. First, standardize the defect classification terminology to facilitate the link between inspections and the resulting repairs. Second, enrich each defect with metadata—added by the blade manufacturer or turbine manufacturer—to enable a more detailed analysis. Finally, standardize file and directory names to make them easier to access for both users and analysis software.

These recommendations pave the way for more consistent and actionable inspection and repair data, benefiting the entire wind energy sector.