Operations & Maintenance | ACP /blog/resources/topics/operations-maintenance/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:02:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Lubricants as an Asset /resources/lubricants-as-an-asset/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lubricants-as-an-asset Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:01:52 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=68752 This technical guide explores the strategic role of lubricants in wind turbine operations, emphasizing how effective lubricant selection, monitoring, and management can enhance reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and extend asset life. Rather than treating lubricants as consumables, the document advocates for viewing them as long-term assets within a disciplined fleetwide maintenance strategy.

Key takeaways include:

  • Lubricant selectionÌýmust align with turbine design, operating conditions, and OEM standards to ensure long-term reliability.
  • Condition monitoring enables predictive maintenance and supports extended oil drain intervals.
  • Standardized sampling and analysisÌýpractices are critical for accurate diagnostics and fleetwide data consistency.
  • Fleetwide lubrication managementÌýcan reduce downtime, optimize costs, and support data-driven decision-making.
  • Advanced sensor technologiesÌý(e.g., wear debris and oil quality sensors) offer real-time insights into mechanical and lubricant health
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Maximizing Reliability Through Inverter Selection /resources/maximizing-reliability-through-inverter-selection/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=maximizing-reliability-through-inverter-selection Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:10:58 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=68612 This resourceÌýhighlights how inverter choice directly impacts the performance, costs, and long-term reliability of solar PV systems. It reviews technical, financial, and operational considerations-from efficiency and data communications to warranties, spare parts, and O&M strategies -that drive system uptime and reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).Ìý

Key takeaways:

  • Inverters are the component on solar sites for power conversion and control, making reliability a critical factor.
  • Technical drivers include component quality, grid code compliance, cybersecurity, and thermal management.
  • Financial modeling must weigh CapEx against long-term OpEx, warranties, and bankability impacts.
  • Strong procurement strategies and O&M feedback loops improve availability and reduce lifecycle costs.
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How to Repair, Inspect, and Maintain Wind Turbine Blades /resources/how-to-inspect-repair-and-maintain-wind-turbine-blades/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-inspect-repair-and-maintain-wind-turbine-blades Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:24:14 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=64266 Hear from the ACP Wind Performance Committee members as they cover how blade inspections, maintenance, and repair are essential for the successful operation of a wind farm. Over time, wind turbine blades are exposed to environmental and operating factors that can cause irregularities and damage. Effective blade maintenance programs establish a documented strategy for inspections and repair throughout the operational lifecycle to help minimize downtime, maximize energy output, and reduce repair costs.

ACP’s Wind Performance Committee has developed Recommended Practices for Wind Turbine Blades to provide detailed recommendations for wind turbine blade maintenance, bringing forth the clean energy industry’s best practices for inspection, transportation, repair, and maintenance. It is designed to support asset owners, operators, third-party service providers, and maintenance personnel in optimizing blade longevity and performance.

Attendees will learn:

  • Major aspects of wind turbine blade maintenance, from initial inspections and transportation considerations to repair strategies and long-term maintenance planning
  • External and internal blade inspections, preventive maintenance techniques, and structural repair methods, ensuring a holistic approach to blade care
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Battery Energy Storage: Commitment to Safety & Reliability /resources/battery-energy-storage-commitment-to-safety-reliability/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=battery-energy-storage-commitment-to-safety-reliability Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:15:07 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=62985 Battery energy storage technologies are designed to meet and exceed qualification standards. Safety is fundamental to all parts of our electric system, including battery energy storage facilities. The U.S. battery energy storage industry uses a suite of important certifications and standards that guide the safe design, installation, and operation of battery energy storage facilities.

This fact sheets provides details on how these systems are tested and vetted, certified, and ultimately built to comply with the nation’s leading safety standards.

Battery energy storage technologies are built to enhance electric grid security and reliability, reliably powering homes and businesses by performing during critical high stress periods, and delivering power to the grid during blizzards or heat waves.

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Recommended Practices for Wind Turbine Blades /resources/recommended-practices-for-wind-turbine-blades/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recommended-practices-for-wind-turbine-blades Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:15:02 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=62735 Blade inspections, maintenance, and repair are essential for the successful operation of a wind farm. Overtime, wind turbine blades are exposed to environmental and operating factors that can cause irregularities and damage. Effective blade maintenance programs establish a documented strategy for inspections and repair throughout the operational lifecycle to help minimize downtime, maximize energy output, and reduce repair costs.

This Recommended Practice provides detailed recommendations for wind turbine blade maintenance, bringing forth the clean energy industry’s best practices for inspection, transportation, repair, and maintenance. It is designed to support asset owners, operators, third-party service providers, and maintenance personnel in optimizing blade longevity and performance.

The document encompasses all major aspects of wind turbine blade maintenance, from initial inspections and transportation considerations to repair strategies and long-term maintenance planning. It covers both external and internal blade inspections, preventive maintenance techniques, and structural repair methods, ensuring a holistic approach to blade care. Additionally, safety procedures and technician skill requirements are outlined to support safe work practices.

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Electrical Testing Checklist for Clean Energy Sites /resources/electrical-testing-checklist-for-clean-energy-sites/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=electrical-testing-checklist-for-clean-energy-sites Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:52:31 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=57184 This checklist outlines recommended steps, training and qualifications, equipment, and documentation practices for conducting electrical testing at clean energy sites. It is intended for use by individuals who perform this testing, including construction project, commissioning, and operation managers.

This checklist is a guide for reference and is not a procedure. Each site has different equipment, ratings, and configurations that would require the use of a site-specific procedure. Solid dielectric, plastic, and rubber-based materials under voltage stress in access of 3kV/mm (volts per thickness) fail due to an erosion process associated with a capacitive discharge phenomena known as partial discharge (PD).

For further information on testing, refer to ACP’sÌýWind and Solar Underground AC Collection System Cable TestingÌýresource.

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Splice Body and Termination Playbook /resources/splice-body-and-termination-playbook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=splice-body-and-termination-playbook Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:22:25 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=56304 The renewable energy industry has been the electrical industry’s largest single user of 35kV cables over the last two decades. While each cable requires multiple accessories often due to cable length, installation utilizing directional boring, or for various other installation reasons, the use of splices may be required. Many of the terminators and connectors that are on the market were originally marketed to the utility industry and may not be best suited for renewable facilities. Further, as renewable energy facilities have gotten larger, the corresponding lengths of cables have gotten longer, and the usage of splices has increased.

Over the last decade or more, a rise in accessory failures on wind and solar farms has been documented, indicating that despite the engineering design, they are prematurely failing. Yet, at the same time, utility applications were not seeing the same increase in failures. Many of the manufacturers have instigated studies to determine why.

ACP’s Wind Performance Committee developed the Splice Body and Termination Playbook with the intent to provide guidance and analysis for splices at renewable energy facilities. This playbook provides an overview of the types of accessories and couplings that connect to a cable, a failure analysis of lower performance splices, and designs for joint body re-creation.

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Gearbox Operations Playbook /resources/gearbox-operations-playbook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gearbox-operations-playbook Sun, 21 Jul 2024 14:20:01 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=66871 This playbook focuses on wind turbine gearbox operations and maintenance as part of the global transition to sustainable energy. Wind turbine gearboxes are critical components that convert wind energy to electricity, operating under extreme conditions including harsh temperatures, high wind forces, and continuous rotation.

The document covers the wind turbine drivetrain ecosystem, monitoring systems, and maintenance practices, with particular emphasis on gearbox intricacies. Understanding these systems is essential for maximizing energy production, extending equipment life, and reducing downtime.

Developed by the ÀóÖ¦ÊÓÆµ Association’s Drivetrain Working Group, the playbook provides practical guidance for daily gearbox operations, including common troubleshooting scenarios and solutions. The working group draws on decades of expertise from wind and other industries to help technicians, engineers, and managers improve wind project reliability and performance.

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Recommended Practices for Onshore Wind Turbine Foundation Maintenance /resources/recommended-practices-for-onshore-wind-turbine-foundation-maintenance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=recommended-practices-for-onshore-wind-turbine-foundation-maintenance Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:44:56 +0000 /?post_type=resource&p=53022 Renewable energy operators typically employ maintenance crews, remote operations, and corporate support staff to maintain and manage wind energy sites. As of 2023, the operating wind energy fleet in the United States consisted of over 71,000 wind turbines with 1,900 turbines brought online in 2023 alone. While each operating company has different performance targets, energy-based availability is a common metric with targets ranging from 96% to 99% turbine energy availability depending on turbine technology. Virtually all industrial scale wind plants are operated remotely from a remote operations center. On-site maintenance crews can operate the equipment but are primarily tasked with equipment maintenance and repair.

Commonly referenced foundation design standards including ASCE/AWEA RP2011, IEC 61400-6:2020 and DNV-ST-0126 all recommend some level of foundation maintenance or monitoring but do not provide detailed guidance.

This Recommended Practices provides detailed recommendations for the maintenance of wind turbine foundations to address the most common maintenance needs including inspections, preventative maintenance, and typical reports. It discusses operating conditions, typical foundation designs, common failure modes, recommended maintenance and repair methods, and design considerations. These recommendations apply to several foundation types with a peripheral arrangement of pretensioned anchor bolts holding the tower to the foundation, as most turbine foundations in North America are this type.

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