Cold climate conditions present challenges to wind power projects that requires specific solutions to maximize production and minimize risks and uncertainties.

Cold climate sites are defined as those that experience either icing events or temperatures lower than the operational limits of standard wind turbines. Low temperature sites require special solutions to keep turbines operating. In icing conditions, a combination of low temperatures and liquid water in the atmosphere results in ice accretion on surfaces, such as wind turbine blades, towers and nacelle. Blade icing results in loss of lift and increase in drag, resulting in reduced energy production. Icing can increase mechanical loads on the turbine, vibrations in structures and noise. In addition, ice on the blades, nacelles and towers can present a health and safety risk, due to ice falling off or being thrown from the blades.