The construction of smart wind farms centers on digital technologies. By deeply integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence with wind power operations, smart wind farms achieve precise sensing, intelligent decision-making, and efficient operation. Compared to traditional wind farms, smart wind farms can boost operational and maintenance efficiency by more than 30% and reduce the cost per kilowatt-hour by 10% to 15%, making them a key driver for cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the wind power industry.
Data acquisition and analysis are the foundation of smart wind farms. Thousands of various sensors are deployed within wind farms to collect real-time data on turbine operations, environmental meteorological conditions, grid operation status, and more, which are then transmitted via 5G networks to a data center. A big-data platform conducts in-depth analysis of this data, enabling not only real-time monitoring of turbine operating conditions but also predictive modeling to forecast wind speed variations and equipment failures. At a smart wind farm in northwest China, the forecasting system achieves an accuracy rate of 85% for wind speed predictions over a 72-hour period, providing a scientific basis for turbine operation and scheduling.

The application of artificial intelligence technology has made wind farm operations smarter. AI algorithms can analyze historical failure data to identify early signs of equipment malfunctions and issue timely warnings in advance. At a wind farm in northern China, an AI-based fault prediction system has successfully anticipated 12 potential gearbox failures, thereby preventing severe equipment damage and prolonged downtime. Meanwhile, the AI system can also optimize turbine operating strategies by adjusting rotor speed and blade pitch angles in real time according to current wind resource conditions, boosting wind energy utilization efficiency by 5% to 8%.

Unmanned operations and maintenance are a key feature of smart wind farms. Drone inspections have replaced traditional manual tower-climbing inspections, reducing the inspection time for each turbine from two hours to just 15 minutes—and significantly lowering safety risks for maintenance personnel. Drones equipped with infrared thermal imaging cameras can precisely detect temperature anomalies in equipment such as generators and converters, enabling early identification of hidden faults. Some advanced wind farms have even introduced operation-and-maintenance robots, which can autonomously inspect internal turbine components and perform simple repairs.

The development of smart wind farms has also promoted the synergistic development of wind power with industries such as energy storage and hydrogen energy. By leveraging digital platforms, wind farms, energy storage systems, and hydrogen production equipment can be coordinated and scheduled in a unified manner. During periods of high wind power generation, excess electricity can be used for energy storage or hydrogen production; when wind power output is insufficient, stored energy can be released or hydrogen can be utilized to generate electricity, thereby enhancing the wind farm’s ability to absorb renewable energy and boosting its overall value.