Icing is a problem in many regions of the world. On meteorological stations, the accretion of ice leads to erronous measurements. On wind turbines, icing affects the streaming conditions which leads to decreased power production. Furthermore, ice casting from wind turbines is a security risk. High voltage power lines can yield to high ice loads and collapse.

Our skills

• Icing assessments
• Icing measurements
  
• Regional forecasts of icing events in complex terrain
• Photographic monitoring of wind turbines (blade conditions)
• Ice throw assessments for wind turbines
  

Icing handbook

In the scope of a research project for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Meteotest produced a handbook for the operation of wind turbines under icing conditions. Handbook (4.6 MB, German only)

Current icing research projects

• COST-727 - Measuring and Forecasting Atmospheric Icing on Structures
• MEMFIS - Measuring, Modelling and Forecasting Ice Loads on Structures
• Alpine Test Site Guetsch
• IEA Task 19 - Wind Energy in Cold Climate
• IWAIS 2009 - 13th International Workshop on Atmospheric Icing on Structures

Publications

• Dierer et al., Modelling the risk of icing
• Cattin et al., 4 years of monitoring a wind turbine under icing conditions
• Dierer et al., Modelling the risk of icing in Switzerland
• Cattin et al., Wind Turbine Ice Throw Studies in the Swiss Alps