Wind generator in cold climate

Do you know a blade cover with 5 mm of ice can reduce power curve by as much as 80%?
Do you know icing is a major problem for aircraft, wind turbine and power lines?
Do you know why people choose to set up their wind turbine in this cold region?

Rather than waiting for the ice on the blades to be removed by direct sunlight or higher temperature, we have to find some active methods to protect our expensive wind turbine.
The problems occurs for wind turbine operating in cold region.
✔ Accumulation of ice on wind turbine blades resulting in reduced power output and increased rotor loads
✔  Mechanical and electrical failures due to higher load on blades
✔ Limited or reduced access for maintenance activities
✔ Measurement and control error and other safety hazard

Actually, there are a variety of different approaches to remove ice from blades. IEA wind recommends heating outer surfaces of blades or using Atifreeze coating.
Furthermore, there are various ice protection system technologies available on market.
✔ Hot air ice protection systems have a heat source combined with a high powered fan to circulate hot air to different areas of the blade.
✔ Electro-thermal ice protection systems have heating elements, typically carbon fibre, placed on the outer surface on the blade
✔ Microwave ice protection systems have a special outer coating on the blade surface that heats up when exposed to microwaves created by generators inside the blade
✔ Passive systems use blade coatings with special material properties to passively (no energy required) mitigate ice induced risks

The cold regions tend to have low population density and high wind speed which make them particularly attractive sites for setting up a home wind turbine.

Credit: windpowermonthly, IEA wind