| Wind power is one of the many alternative energy | | | | necessary for the efficient generation of power via a |
| source you keep hearing about in the news lately. Lots | | | | wind turbine. |
| of debate has been made over whether or not wind | | | | Some of the more common maintenance procedures |
| turbines are a cost effective solution to our growing | | | | on large scale wind turbines include: periodic gearbox oil |
| global energy needs. The answer to the question is | | | | changes, turbine blade cleaning, bolt tensioning and |
| yes & no. Simply put, a large scale wind turbine | | | | blade pitch control monitoring. Keeping up with all of |
| has the capacity to generate lots of usable energy, if it | | | | these minor maintenance procedures will help a wind |
| is operating at peak performance. | | | | turbine operate at its peak performance level as well |
| One of the most common arguments against using | | | | as help prevent major breakdowns like gearbox |
| wind turbines as a source of energy is that they are | | | | bearing failure, which could potentially lead to replacing |
| completely reliant on the presence of, you guessed it, | | | | the entire gearbox, one of the most expensive |
| wind. This couldn't be more true, however when | | | | components of the entire wind tower. |
| planning the development of a wind farm, consideration | | | | One other benefit of keeping up with the routine |
| is usually given to the locale of the wind farm | | | | maintenance procedures on wind turbines is the ability |
| development. The people investing billions into | | | | to perform these tasks through the use of an extreme |
| implementing these farms are not simply just picking | | | | cost saving method, rope access technology. Many of |
| the cheapest land they can find, and slapping a few | | | | the leading wind turbine service companies have rope |
| dozen wind turbines on it; their land selection is based | | | | access crews that can perform the majority of these |
| on lots of research into wind patterns and prevalence | | | | routine tasks without the need for giant cranes and |
| in particular areas of the country. | | | | other large equipment that become necessary when |
| With that said, there are lots of other factors that can | | | | replacing gearboxes, generators, etc. |
| weigh heavily on the output of a wind turbine or wind | | | | With all of that said, it is easy to see why keeping up |
| farm, one of the most important being up to date | | | | with routine maintenance procedures is a vital part of |
| maintenance of the most critical components of the | | | | keeping your wind turbine or wind farm operating at |
| turbine. There are many different preventive | | | | peak power output at all times. |
| maintenance procedures that are absolutely | | | | |