A Smart Grid approach to condition based maintenance of renewable energy assets

The impact of renewables to energy production is becoming more and more significant, but not only in positive terms. The type of electrical and thermal stresses occurring in electrical apparatus, especially insulation systems, due to nonconventional voltage waveforms, transients and loading conditions may affect considerably electrical asset reliability. This paper describes how renewable generation assets can affect reliability and availability of electrical apparatus, proposes models and practical solutions which are based on a Smart Grid approach and would allow the asset and maintenance manager to operate the renewable asset with the best compromise between return of the investment and reliability.