The onshore wind sector has an important role to play in the future of green energy production. That’s the message coming from governments across the globe who are increasingly focused on enhancing domestic energy security by boosting cost-effective, renewable energy sources.
In the UK, the government is being urged to double its onshore wind capacity by 2030, while in the EU, capacity is expected to increase by 253 gigawatts during the same period. Land-based wind farms will be a vital energy source in the future.
Wind farm operators keen to capitalise on this growing demand for onshore wind energy must take stock of their assets now and ensure their operations are as reliable as possible. It’s time for them to consider whether turbines are fully optimised for efficiency and if everything is being done to guarantee their longevity.
At AIS Wind Energy, we help our European onshore wind farm clients to maximise system efficiency and energy output. Calling on our team’s vast experience handling projects from installation to decommissioning and everything in between, we have identified four key ways to build reliability into onshore wind energy operations:
Where to start with building reliability into an onshore wind farm
1.Focus on preventative maintenance
Reliability comes from anticipating and managing operational risk so that wind turbines can run smoothly, and repair downtime is minimised.
It is vital to implement a regular maintenance programme that focuses on identifying and preventing significant issues before they impede system efficiency and performance. Giving machinery regular checks avoids needless interruptions to operations and allows problems to be flagged and addressed quickly so standard service can resume.
Performing preventative maintenance on wind turbines is crucial to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency. The maintenance programme should incorporate various elements, including cleaning, inspecting and repairing damage, checking lubrication levels, and testing electrical components.
2. Schedule a service
Servicing onshore wind turbines keeps them at peak performance, helping to maximise the energy they generate and their service life. Wind turbine servicing also ensures that warranties remain valid, and that maintenance or component replacement requirements are noted early.
At AIS Wind Energy, our team of trained and certified wind turbine servicing technicians can schedule servicing to coordinate with planned maintenance intervals to prevent any interruptions to operational hours for each turbine. Regular maintenance and servicing complement each other and help to keep valuable wind turbine assets in optimum condition for reliable performance.
3. Have expert support on hand
With the cost of unscheduled downtime approximately £1 million per megawatt hour, building in reliability is priceless. It pays to have the right specialist expertise to maximise energy output and future-proof wind turbine and wind farm assets.
At AIS Wind Energy, we offer a one-stop-shop service for all wind farm and wind turbine installation, commissioning, maintenance, servicing and decommissioning requirements. We have delivered various projects across Europe. This breadth of expertise, combined with our highly skilled team of technicians and our fleet of specialist lifting equipment, makes us well-placed to collaborate with onshore wind farm operators and help maximise operational efficiency and reliability.
4. Don’t put things off
Like all machinery, wind turbines are subject to the rigours of time and will degrade if not taken care of effectively. Embedding reliability into a wind farm facility means working with the experts to protect and galvanise turbine efficiency. The longer wind farm operators wait to bolster maintenance, servicing and repair programmes, the greater the risk of turbine failures.
Reliability stems from being prepared, vigilant, proactive, and having the right specialist expertise.
To find out how the team at AIS Wind Energy can build reliability into your onshore wind farm, contact us.
