For the first time, U.S. annual renewable energy generation exceeded nuclear generation in 2021 and coal generation in 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Among renewables, solar and wind stand out as the fastest growing sectors.In 2022, wind turbines generated more than 10% of the U.S.'s net total energy, and investments in new wind energy projects added $20 billion to the country's economy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE).
The EIA forecasts wind power generation to grow by 11% from 430 billion kWh in 2023 to 476 billion kWh in 2025. Over the longer term, the DoE projects the country's total wind power capacity to be 224.07 GW in 2030 and 404.25 GW in 2050.
When tapping into this lucrative and growing market sector, it's important to consider how to address some of the risks inherent to wind farms.
Proper grounding to protect against lightning damage
By their very nature, wind turbines are virtual magnets for lightning strikes, and lightning damage has been cited repeatedly as the number one cause of wind turbine downtime.Using traditional cables as grounding conductors in the parts of wind turbines that are subject to constant movement and vibration puts significant strain on the conductor — which can cause the conductor to break, destroying grounding continuity.
Blackburn® flexible braids from ABB Installation Products, on the other hand, are designed specifically to withstand movement and vibration. Made from tinned copper for high conductivity and corrosion resistance, they're available in flexible and extra-flexible styles with one to four bolt holes per ferrule and in a variety of lengths. Custom designs are also available.
In wind farms, you can use Blackburn flexible braids for:
- Flexible connections for tower and foundation grounding systems
- Linking grounding cables to lightning rods or plates
- Grounding connections in substations, transformer stations and collection systems
- Flexible connections in meteorological masts, weather stations, fences, doors and enclosures
Flexible braids are just one component of the complete portfolio of Blackburn® grounding solutions, designed to meet all your grounding and bonding needs.
Cable fastening built to endure harsh weather conditions
Wind farms are typically built in remote areas, such as on mountaintops or out in the ocean — places where service calls are a time-consuming and costly investment. This is no place to skimp by using cheap cable ties that won't last.
ABB Installation Products offers two cable bundling and fastening solutions designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and corrosive conditions present in most wind farms.
- Designed to provide 20-year outdoor life, the Deltec® outdoor fastening system offers extreme strength and durability for harsh outdoor environments with the added benefits of fast, easy installation and no sharp edges to injure installers' hands or damage cable insulation. The system includes reels of weatherable acetal strapping that resists UV light, moisture and salt and gives you total flexibility in length, along with double-locking heads for secure cable bundling. 250 lb. minimum tensile strength supports even the heaviest electrical installations, and they're rated for an extreme operating temperature range of -85 °F to 194 °F (-65 °C to 90 °C).
- Ty-Met™ ball-lock cable ties are made of type 316 stainless steel for extreme corrosion resistance in harsh environments. Their secure, self-locking mechanism allows for easy installation with low insertion force. They're available uncoated or fully coated in UV-resistant polyester and in multiple lengths and widths providing minimum tensile strength from 175 to 450 lb.