Reliability of Renewable Power Generation using the Example of Offshore Wind Farms

Research background The issue of reliability and the cost of failure or maintenance costs of renewable energy sources, including wind farms, is becoming increasingly important, especially as the volume of electricity supply from such installations increases. Purpose The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the development of wind energy in European countries between 2010 and 2020. Evaluating the reliability of wind farm components and ensuring that wind farm infrastructure is available at a high level is crucial to the stability of the electricity supply system. Therefore, the paper presents, as a case study, a reliability estimation of one of the wind farms operating in the North Sea. The analysis is carried out on the basis of empirical data obtained from experts involved in the maintenance of this wind farm. The estimated reliability function is an important reliability indicator for users of this system. On the basis of the evaluated reliability function, for example, the system availability can be improved, and the maintenance costs of the system can be optimised. Research methodology Mathematical modelling was used to analyse system reliability. Further, in the developed reliability models, it was assumed that the system components have the multistate Weibull reliability functions with various parameters in their different reliability state subsets. Novelty Original study with literature review. In the context of the requirements for the transformation of the Polish energy sector, the presented approach can be used in the practical implementation of RES projects, taking into account the reliability of offshore wind farm installations.