Effects of atmospheric discharges on wind farms performance: a review study

Abstract

One of the factors that influence the energy projects’ performance is the atmospheric conditions. Atmospheric discharges are a recurrent and natural phenomenon, that for the energy sector, represent a risk for the system functioning due to the possibility of damage to the equipment or indirect impacts, such as fires and transmission system shutdown, interrupting the energy supply, and causing socioenvironmental and economic impacts. This article analyzed the effects of atmospheric discharges on tall structures of energy projects performance, namely on wind farms. For that purpose, a systematic literature review was developed, and as complementary data some examples of Brazilian Environmental Impact Assessments of new wind farms projects were verified, to demonstrate the need to consider this parameter on the energy projects assessment. Thus, this review showed that better-quality information about atmospheric discharges, as main causes of the breakdowns and factors which influence the intensity and their geographical location, is important to prepare preventive maintenance plans in the short and long term. Moreover, the environmental studies of new energy projects do not consider this phenomenon as an external factor and their effects, such as the possible conflicts between the responsible enterprise and the affected population.

Keywords

• atmospheric discharges
• system risks
• economic losses
• wind farms