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Wind Turbine Icing Insights from Winter 2024–25
Cold climates present serious challenges for wind energy production. During the winter season, turbine blades are vulnerable to ice buildup that can lead to reduced aerodynamic efficiency, safety hazards, increased wear on components, and in many cases, complete turbine shutdowns. These effects compromise not only the output of a wind farm but also its financial performance and long-term viability.
Daniela Roeper, P.Eng.
Vice President BorealisWind
To address this, wind farm operators are increasingly turning to proven ice mitigation systems that improve reliability and maintain performance during wind turbine icing events. In this article, we’ll look at ice protection system performance statistics from the 2024–25 winter season (November 2024 – May 2025) and share data-driven insights from real-world operations at multiple wind farms.
16,225 MWh of Energy Recovered
This past winter, wind turbines protected by ice mitigation systems recovered a combined 16,225 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy. That’s enough to power approximately 1,464 homes for a full year. More importantly, this represents an 11% increase in annual energy production (AEP) for turbines with ice protection.
Ice mitigation systems play a crucial role in ensuring turbine availability during winter storms and cold snaps. Through the use of advanced sensors and automated controls, these systems activate as soon as icing conditions are detected to prevent ice from forming and enabling turbines to continue operating efficiently. Around-the-clock monitoring further ensures optimal performance throughout the season.
$1.2 Million in Additional Revenue Generated
The energy recovered during the 2024–25 winter season also translated into an estimated $1.2 million (CAD) in additional revenue for wind farm operators. These gains represent an 11% increase in revenue for turbines equipped with ice protection systems.
This is particularly significant because winter is often a high-value production period. As temperatures drop, electricity demand rises and market prices in many areas typically increase. Having reliable turbine operation during this season allows wind farms to take advantage of premium pricing and maximize returns on their energy generation.
Wind Turbine Icing Loss Recovery of 60%
Across the fleet, turbines with ice protection systems achieved an average ice loss recovery rate of 60%, with some sites recovering as much as 73% of losses that would have otherwise occurred due to wind turbine icing.
The recovery percentage reflects how much of the potential lost energy due to icing was recovered through proactive mitigation. These rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including turbine type, location, local weather patterns, and icing severity.
95% Average System Availability
System availability averaged 95% across protected turbines throughout the winter season. This metric reflects the percentage of time the ice protection system was online and functioning as intended.
Maintaining high, consistent availability is crucial for ensuring that turbines are protected during peak icing windows. Systems are optimized and monitored throughout the season to detect faults early, minimize downtime, and provide a reliable layer of protection when it’s needed most.
Emissions Offset – 10,901 Tons of CO₂
The additional renewable energy production achieved with the help of ice protection systems also contributed to meaningful climate benefits. This winter’s output offset an estimated 10,901 metric tons of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to taking approximately 2,543 gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year (EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).
By enabling continuous operation during the winter, wind farms can reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based backup power and contribute to more stable, clean energy grids. These emissions savings also support sustainability targets and reporting obligations for wind farm officials and investors.
Building a Better Cold Climate Strategy
The 2024–25 winter season provided a clear look at how comprehensive ice mitigation systems protect against wind turbine icing and contribute to energy production, safety, and sustainability in cold climates. But achieving this level of performance isn’t just about installing the right equipment, it requires active monitoring, seasonal maintenance, and custom system designs that are adapted to each turbine and location.
As wind energy continues to expand around the world, proactive winter performance strategies will be essential. With the right planning and technologies, wind farms can turn winter from a risk into a reliable season of opportunity.