JFE Engineering Develops Sound-and-Video System to Detect Wind Turbine Blade Damage
2026/01/08
JFE Engineering Corporation and Science Tokyo have developed a new technology that enables the early detection of abnormalities in wind turbine blades. By capturing cracks and wear on blade surfaces through sound and identifying internal structural damage via video analysis, the technology helps detect issues that are often overlooked by conventional visual inspections. This system is aimed to put into practical use by 2030.
As wind power deployment continues to expand, ensuring equipment safety and improving operating rates have become critical issues. The newly developed technology is expected to contribute to the advancement of wind farm operation and maintenance (O&M). According to JFE Engineering, while some companies have already developed skills to detect blade abnormalities using sound, the combined use of sound and video for abnormality detection is the first of its kind globally.
At present, wind turbine blades are mainly inspected through periodic visual checks, which carry the risk of missing fine surface cracks or damage to internal frameworks. The new system installs acoustic recording devices and cameras at the base of the turbine tower to capture abnormal sounds generated by surface damage and to record video of blade behavior during operation. These data are then analyzed using a proprietary system capable of detecting even subtle changes.
When wind turbines rotate, they generate characteristic aerodynamic noise. However, cracks or wear on blade surfaces alter the sound profile. In addition, internal structural damage caused by factors such as lightning strikes can increase blade vibration amplitude beyond normal levels. By analyzing such changes in audio and video data, early signs of abnormalities can be identified.
In recent years, wind turbines have grown increasingly larger, resulting in greater mechanical loads on blades during operation. If a blade were to fracture completely and force a shutdown, procuring and replacing a new blade could take several months to half a year, causing significant disruption to power generation operations.
In May 2025, a fatal accident occurred at the Arayahama Wind Power Plant in Akita City, Japan, owned by a subsidiary of the Renewable Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (Reetech), when a blade broke. Although regular external and internal inspections had been conducted, the accident could not be prevented. While the exact cause has not been determined, the impact of lightning has been cited as a possible factor.
To prevent such accidents, wind power operators are increasingly seeking more advanced abnormality detection technologies. JFE Engineering and Science Tokyo stated that they will continue demonstration tests to improve detection accuracy and that JFE Engineering will work toward the early social implementation of the wind turbine blade abnormality detection technology.
(Sources: Nikkei; JFE Engineering Corporation press release)
