Proactive lightning and damage detection

Kiyu wind farm is located in a coastal region of southern Uruguay, an area well known for its high frequency of lightning events. Unlike regions with distinct “lightning seasons,” storms in Uruguay occur throughout the year, creating continuous risks for wind turbines. These conditions make reliable lightning and damage monitoring critical for ensuring turbine safety, performance, and long-term asset health.

The need of reliable condition monitoring for wind turbines

For operators, lightning is more than a natural hazard. It’s a costly operational risk. With turbines at Kiyu exposed to frequent strikes, Cubico needed a system to:

• Detect lightning activity turbine by turbine
• Identify changes in blade condition caused by strikes
• Reduce unnecessary inspections by focusing only on affected turbines
• Ensure reliable data transmission, even in regions with challenging cellular coverage

 

The benefits of knowing

In July 2024, Cubico installed 16 EOLOGIX-PING devices at the Kiyu wind farm, equipping turbines with both :EVENT LIGHTNING and :SURFACE HEALTH monitoring. Over the first year, the system detected 59 lightning strikes, with some turbines hit multiple times. The acoustic monitoring of :SURFACE HEALTH provided additional insights by identifying changes in blade condition, allowing Cubico to prioritize inspections.

 

In July 2025, Cubico expanded the setup with the Add-on Xweather service, gaining access to more detailed lightning parameters for improved analysis and reporting.

 

Key operational benefits included:

• Turbine-specific insights: Operators knew exactly which turbines had been struck, helping technicians decide where to start inspections.
• Reduced inspection workload: When no change in surface condition was detected, unnecessary site visits were avoided.
• Seamless connectivity: Despite concerns about regional cellular coverage, all devices operated reliably without communication issues. Satellite options are available for more remote regions.

 

The system has provided actionable data, streamlined inspection planning, and supported proactive asset management.

 

Cubico has been so encouraged by the performance at Kiyu that they are now evaluating expansion of the technology to four additional sites in Uruguay.

 

Conclusion

By combining lightning detection with acoustic blade damage monitoring, and expanding to advanced weather data, Cubico is setting a strong example of proactive turbine health management in a high-risk lightning region. The Kiyu wind farm case highlights how precise monitoring reduces inspection costs, ensures turbine reliability, and builds confidence in long-term asset protection.