White etching cracks are a symptom of bearing failure. SKF researchers and application engineers discuss how to tackle the challenges and reduce the risk of this failure mode.

Big data is enhancing operations and maintenance (O&M) in the wind power industry. By harnessing insights gleaned from this explosion of information, companies optimize turbines to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Yet as effective as statistical models are, the intermittency of wind is inescapable. This calls for a solution that allows turbines to learn from and adapt to changing conditions autonomously.

Get the most out of your wind turbine data. Find out how SKF WindCon, SKF @ptitude Observer, and SKF Remote Diagnostic Centres help you prevent downtime, improve maintenance planning, and reduce operating costs.

The reliability of bearings has a profound impact on wind turbine operating costs. But as the parts are often subjected to a wide variety of operating conditions, they may fail when they are pushed beyond their limits. In fact, in the past, as many as 80 percent of wind gearbox failures were caused by faulty bearings. Here are the top four main failure modes.

As governments seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the importance of wind as a renewable energy source is growing. In 2016, 54.6 GW of wind power was installed around the world, bringing total global capacity to 486 GW. However, much of this sum comes from turbines approaching the end of their lifespan. Their owners face a dilemma: repower or extend life?

SKF helps the wind industry produce more energy. In this episode of SKF BeyondZero TV, racecar driver Jeff Burton visits a wind farm and a turbine manufacturer to see SKF solutions in action.

Alongside new technologies and business models, modern trends like digitization and the Internet of Things are producing unprecedented amounts of information. This phenomenon – known as big data – is having a profound impact on almost every industry. And the wind energy sector is no exception.

In the wind power industry, each hour a turbine remains out of operation equates to an hour of lost revenue. Minimizing downtime is therefore a top priority for everyone involved in the sector. Keeping turbines running requires knowledge, care, and vigilance.