Suomen Hyötytuuli optimises wind farm operations with improved data management using TCM^®

Suomen Hyötytuuli has been at the forefront of wind power production, effectively overseeing multiple wind farms. However, they received an influx of overwhelming CMS data and recognised the need for a centralised platform to consolidate and analyse this information coming from diverse sources. The implementation of TCM^® (Turbine Condition Monitoring), a condition monitoring solution, empowered Suomen Hyötytuuli to manage and analyse the condition monitoring data efficiently, providing them with a comprehensive overview of their operations, thereby enhancing their capabilities in the wind energy industry. 

Challenges in data collection and analysis
Suomen Hyötytuuli had turbines equipped with different CMS (Condition Monitoring Systems), resulting in data coming from various CMS sources without a single centralised platform to consolidate and analyse this overwhelming amount of data. As a result, their visibility into the CMS data was limited. "We had different Condition Monitoring Systems, which also had to be maintained individually. We heavily depended on these different CMS analyses, which required our team to match different reports for an overall analysis, making the process time-consuming and cumbersome. We wanted a common platform that would allow us to access all the data in one place, conduct in-depth analysis, and gain a comprehensive overview of operations," Simo Vahteristo, Technical Asset Manager, Suomen Hyötytuuli.

Secured, unified data and analysis for streamlined operations
To address their data management and analysis challenges, Suomen Hyötytuuli reached out to several companies for potential solutions. "KK Wind Solutions was the only company that embraced the challenge and initiated work on developing a solution to meet our specific needs. The introduction of TCM^® Data Connector allowed us to create a common platform to manage CMS data from various CMS systems and enable diagnostic on one platform, giving control over all the data and streamlining operations," Simo.

Suomen Hyötytuuli now utilises the TCM^® Data Connector Service and TCM^® Enterprise Server along with TCM^® Monitoring Service to collect and analyse data from wind turbines equipped with various condition monitoring systems. This approach enhances efficiency and provides a more solid foundation for decision-making while managing a hybrid fleet of CMS systems. Additionally, it allows access and acts upon the results and recommended actions uploaded to the monitoring portal. These insights are derived from converting 3^rd party CMS data into TCM^® data.

Key benefits:

• Unified platform: TCM^® products seamlessly integrate to create a shared data management and analysis platform.
   
• Streamlined solutions: This integration eliminates the requirement for multiple software and systems, simplifying data management into a single, efficient solution.
   
• Enhanced cyber security: The TCM^® solutions are designed with TCM^® Enhanced Cyber Security technology to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure the confidentiality of vibration data, making it readily available for diagnostic services.
   
• Non-disruptive integration: Suomen Hyötytuuli did not need to replace its existing data sources or hardware during the integration process.
   
• Post-processing capability: The TCM^® products allow for post-processing of data, increasing their utility. 

"We had a positive experience working with the TCM^® team. The team shared weekly updates to keep us up-to-date on the project's progress and provided value-added insights during the solution development. TCM^® team showcased a strong partnership throughout the project," Simo.

About Suomen Hyötytuuli:
Suomen Hyötytuuli plays a pivotal role in the fight against climate change by generating clean and sustainable energy. Wind power production is entirely free from emissions into the air, water, or soil. The company is reputed as a modern and trustworthy operator dedicated to caring for wind farms throughout their entire life cycle – starting from project development and construction and continuing through production, maintenance, and eventual dismantling. Currently, Suomen Hyötytuuli oversees the operation of seven wind farms (69 wind turbines), with an additional three in the construction phase. The combined capacity is projected to surpass 650 MWs with over 100 turbines upon completion.