Many industries, such as manufacturing, are now connecting their machines, and even entire facilities, with the Internet of Things (IoT). This enables automation and delivers unprecedented levels of performance data. Despite this, the wind energy sector is somewhat behind and has some catching up to do. What benefits could the IoT offer the wind industry?

Bearings are key components for machinery reliability. Therefore, they need to be robust, especially in critical applications such as main shafts and gearboxes for wind turbines. Various methods for enhancing the durability of these components are often discussed. In this article, we compare carburized non-coated with black oxide through hardened bearings.

Bearing remanufacturing centers help wind farm operators to extend the service life of their components in a cost- and time-effective manner. The Wind Farm Management Blog previously explained how bearings for wind turbines are remanufactured. This time, we provide a look inside one of SKF’s facilities in the USA, showing key aspects of the remanufacturing process in a video.

When a bearing approaches the end of its service life, it may seem logical to replace it with a new one. This has been the attitude in the wind energy sector for many years. But things might be about to change as remanufacturing bearings offers organizations the chance to become more competitive and boost uptime.

Bearings are responsible for ensuring wind turbines keep on turning. They are active in numerous parts of machinery and play different roles. Therefore, there is a wide variety in every turbine. What are some of the key bearings and how are they used?

Offshore wind farms represent an opportunity to generate electricity much more efficiently while protecting the environment. Winds are strongest further out at sea, but conventional offshore turbines can only be installed at limited depths. Consequently, floating wind turbines are emerging as a trend.

The planning and preparation that goes into constructing an operational wind farm is enormous. From choosing the right location to installing the turbines and commissioning the facility, there’s a lot for organizations to consider. Where do you start when building a wind farm?

Many operators order replacement parts on an item-by-item basis. This can be effective but does have limitations since the performance of the total system is not understood when considering items in an inventory individually. Innovative software may hold the key to fine tuning stock levels and expenses on spare parts and ensuring wind farms always have just what they need.

Not all wind turbines are created equally. While most people are familiar with the appearance of a wind turbine, there are some designs that break the mold. In this article, the Wind Farm Management Blog looks at some of the world’s most interesting turbines.