Fall in wind prices energy increases importance on end of warranty strategy

After a bumper installation year of 13GW of wind power generation capacity installed in 2012, wind energy in the US now accounts for 6% of the nation’s total energy mix.

Furthermore, increases in wind power technology have driven cost competitiveness of in many states with natural-gas fired power plants.

However, this fall in the cost of wind power prices combined with an uncertain 2013 [in terms of installation] has pushed O&M to the top of the agenda for wind operators. Especially as projects leave their warranty phase, asset managers are now under vast amounts of pressure to closely analyse and scrutinize operational expenditure. The challenge is to carefully select an O&M strategy that will continue to generate the maximum yield while at the same time minimize expensive maintenance, such as unscheduled call-outs and major component fixes that result in downtime and lost yield.

This comes as Bloomberg New Energy Finance launches the first edition of their O&M Price Index. Compiled with confidential contract data from 38 major developers and service providers worldwide, the Index is a unique tool designed for owner/operators to help select the most cost-competitive O&M strategy for their fleet. Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commented: “Wind power has done much to improve its competitiveness against gas-fired and coal-fired generation in recent years, via lower-cost, more technically advanced turbines, and more sophisticated siting and management of wind farms. This new O&M Price Index shows that servicing wind farms at the operating stage is also becoming much more cost-efficient.”

Bloomberg New Energy Finance will present their O&M Price Index at the 5th Wind O&M Summit USA (9-10 April, Dallas), the biggest commeriacl networking forum designed specifically for owner/operaors of wind asset. Featuring key insight from E.ON Climate and Renewables, EDP Renewables, Infigen Energy, AES Wind Generation, Firstwind, Akuo Energy and more, the O&M Summit is the essential forum for asset managers and O&M directors looking to optimize yield and maximise revenue.

For more information visit www.windenergyupdate.com/operations-maintenance-usa