Big data is taking its hold on the 21st century. We are seeing its prominence in all areas of society. But the wind power sector seems to be somewhat behind. Why is this, and how can big data contribute to the industry achieving its ultimate goal of improving the levelized cost of energy?

When managing spare parts stock, companies face a significant challenge: maintenance requirements vs. financial resources. This can be a difficult task as mismanagement of either can have serious consequences. So what can operators do to ensure they have this under control?

Maintaining wind turbine reliability is one of the main challenges facing the industry. Without correct lubrication for key components, there is always the risk that operation could grind to a halt. Fortunately, there are various options available to help avoid this.

A wind turbine may be functioning and producing energy. But how do operators know that their machinery is performing well in comparison to industry standards? And how can they roadmap and target increased operational performance? Benchmarking has the potential to provide the answer.

A key wind turbine bearing has failed and needs replacing. But the faulty component is over 100 meters in the air and encased within the structure. Repeatedly repairing or replacing it is not a sustainable option. The question is, how can the lifespan of these components be increased while reducing costs? Here are some of the emerging trends within the industry.

With wind turbines producing a remarkable amount of performance data, analyzing this for faults or issues can be a time-consuming task. But significant investment is being made into tackling this challenge with a particular focus on automated analysis.

A large number of wind turbines have been in operation for many years, leading to inevitable wear. At face value, this may be considered problematic – but on closer inspection, aging wind turbines could present a world of opportunity.

Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs represent a large portion of expenditure for wind farm operators. Failure to implement an effective strategy may result in increased costs or machinery failure. For this reason, it is important to take a statistical approach.

The experts have spoken: A survey carried out at the 2017 SKF Wind Farm Management Conference has indicated that the global wind operations and maintenance (O&M) market is expected to grow by around 15% by 2020. Read on to discover what the findings of the poll could mean for the wind industry.