Tag “industry-insights”

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.

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.

China is experiencing a wind energy boom. In 2016, the country added 23 GW to its installed wind power capacity, reaching a total of 168 GW. This solidifies its position as the global leader in wind energy. However, when it comes to servicing the nation’s tens of thousands of wind turbines, maintenance companies face considerable challenges.

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.

As the wind energy industry grows and technology develops, so too do the challenges that operators face. Effective asset management is crucial for enabling a wind farm to run as efficiently as possible. Cloud solutions allow engineers to keep their maintenance under control and operate productively.