Wind turbine maintenance is an essential tool to increase the profitability and lifetime of the wind farm project.

Growing awareness and stringent regulations have given a fillip to wind energy projects. Large wind farms generate electricity at a cost that now competes favourably with conventional sources like coal and natural gas. The Indian wind energy sector has an installed capacity of 23,439.26 MW (as on March 31, 2015). In terms of wind power installed capacity, India is ranked 5th in the World. Today India is a major player in the global wind energy market. Since 2014, Suzlon in India has been installing on-shore windmills with tower height of 120 metres, which is 30-40 metres above conventional height, also in the process harnessing more wind and hence power.

While windmills reaching to the sky are a great sight to behold, there are attendant issues of Operations and Maintenance (O&M), which is a huge market with its own equipment and manpower requirements. Poor reliability of turbines can affect directly to project’s revenue and can reduce the availability to generate power due to turbine downtime. Poor reliability can also lead to increased operational and maintenance cost of the project. Therefore, wind turbine maintenance is an essential tool to increase the profitability and lifetime of the wind farm project.

According to report released by RnR Market Research, a global market research agency in April 2015, the global expenditure for wind turbine O&M will rise from USD 9.25 billion in 2014 to an estimated USD 17 billion by 2020, driven by increasing numbers of installations and aging turbines. Maintenance cost of wind turbines accounts for approximately 20% of total project’s cost that holds the interest of major service industries into this sector.

Wind turbine maintenance personnel face many challenges in course of their job like working in confined spaces, electrical hazards, varying platforms and ladder systems, vertigo and more. Abroad, there are many companies offering specialised training and certified courses and some of these are now also present in India. The PPG Institute of Technology in Coimbatore last year opened a Windmill Training Centre to meet the demand for the need of trained windmill technicians in India. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in India, complete with horizontal and vertical windmills, solar photovoltaic power panels, etc. The training facility consists of various parts and machinery that ? windmill possesses. The scope of training includes design, installation, service and maintenance of windmill technology and also the safety aspect.

Hyderabad based Sagar Asia specialises in state-of -the-art tower internals that conform to safety regulations and adherence to international standards. The company supports manufacturers of wind power plants worldwide, functioning both as a general contractor and consultant. It offers a complete range of components, which can be made available to customised requirements: fixed ladders with fall arrester systems, wall mountings and intermediate platforms, modular access steps and overhead walkways; platforms and railing system, tower doors, E-technology equipment and more. It has standardised fittings with relevant automation and contact programmes with customers that ensure high levels of service and prompt delivery.

Advantages:

*A tested system offering a high degree of safety with static analysis (ladder holders, fixed ladders, fall arrester systems)

*Flexible and economical through the combination of standardised systems

*Special sizes also possible

*Fall arrestors: designed to customer standards

*Fixed ladders made of aluminium are corrosion- resistant, easy to install and extremely strong

*Ready to install, including wall mountings

*Optimum safety: Sagar Asia guarantees adherence to all standards and safety regulations, and

*Manufactured to comply with all relevant standards and safety regulations.