4G Connectivity for Wind Turbine Remote Monitoring

Wind turbines are usually where the fixed-line network is not: hilltops, farmland and coastal sites. Yet they need constant monitoring and control to run efficiently and safely. A 4G router with a fixed IP SIM and an external antenna is the most practical way to connect them, whether it is a single farm turbine or a small community scheme.

What needs connecting

• The turbine controller, so the operator or maintenance company can see output, alarms and status, and stop or reset the turbine remotely.
• Meters and inverters, for generation data and export readings.
• CCTV and access control on larger or more exposed sites.

Most of this traffic is small: status data, alarms and occasional remote sessions. A few gigabytes a month is often enough, unless you add live CCTV.

The kit

An industrial 4G router

Turbine nacelles and base cabinets are electrically noisy and see wide temperature swings, so use an industrial router rather than a consumer one. The Teltonika RUT956 suits most turbine sites: dual SIM, serial ports for older controllers, digital I/O for alarms and a wide power input. If the controller only needs one Ethernet or serial link, a gateway such as the Teltonika TRB246 is smaller and cheaper.

A fixed IP SIM

Remote access to the controller means connecting in to the site. A fixed IP SIM card gives the router a static public address so the operator's software can reach it, ideally through a VPN. Where coverage from one network is uncertain, a multi-network SIM adds resilience.

An external antenna

A steel tower and a metal cabinet block mobile signal. Mount a MIMO 4G antenna outside the base cabinet, or a directional antenna pointed at the nearest mast on remote sites. Keep the cable run short.

Keeping it running unattended

• Connection checks: industrial routers can ping a server and restart the mobile connection, or switch SIM, if the link drops.
• Remote management: Teltonika RMS shows every router's status and lets you update firmware without a site visit.
• Alerts: SMS or email alerts from the router's digital inputs can tell you about a cabinet door opening or a power failure.

For help choosing the router, SIM and antenna for a renewable energy site, call us on 0300 124 6181. Ask about our configuration service if you would like the router set up before it ships.