Trends, Technical Risks, and Opportunities in Repowering
(Room Paradise)
01 Mar 17
8:30 AM
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9:45 AM
With the recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance allowing eligibility of repowered projects for production tax credits (PTC), there is significant industry interest in repowering of projects nearing or past the end of their 10-year period of PTC benefit. In addition to traditional repowering concepts in which very old turbines are removed and replaced by new turbines, full repowering, another repowering concept, partial repowering, has garnered attention. Partial repowering involves utilizing the existing foundation and possibly tower or more, while adding a new rotor (likely bigger) and drivetrain. Partial repowering is a different undertaking than full repowering or new development, and encompasses a number of legal and regulatory hurdles, as well as complex engineering challenges, but also clear opportunities in terms of increased energy production, tax credit qualification and, in some cases, risk reduction. This presentation will demonstrate the trends and opportunities that DNV GL has observed in partial repowering in the U.S., and will provide the audience with an overview of technical, contractual, and environmental risks and considerations.