Falls, fire hazards, confined spaces, medical and first aid, machine guarding, lock/out electrical hazards, arc flash, and respiratory protection are just some of the many dangers that wind turbine workers face. To ensure maximum safety of wind turbine workers and to meet OSHA legislation, employers need to endeavor to exercise several essential wind turbine safety precautions and controls. Here are some safety tips for wind turbine workers.

First Aid personnel should always be on-site

At least one person qualified to administer first aid should be on-site whenever work on wind turbines is carried out. On construction sites, at least two people qualified and trained to administer first aid must be on-site when the installation, maintenance, or servicing of wind turbines is being conducted. It is also imperative that all workers performing any maintenance work must be trained in first aid.

Ongoing risk management and assessments 

Effective risk management is vital to ensuring wind turbine safety. Site managers and contractors should ensure that all wind turbine workers are correctly informed, educated, and knowledgeable about the risks and hazards that can occur during their duties, especially concerning electrical hazards and the risks of working with certain tools and materials.

Contractors and site managers should also endeavor to conduct ongoing task-specific risk assessments to uncover any hazards specific to their windfarm and implement appropriate control measures. Supervision is vital in monitoring operations and identifying areas for improvement and compliance.

Provision of personal protective equipment 

The provision of comprehensive personal protective equipment (PPE) is another crucial element of maintaining wind turbine health and safety. Any wind turbine worker exposed to a potential fall should be supported by a certified personal fall arrest system (PFAS), such as a full-body safety harness. PPE in the form of climbing helmets, safety glasses, head torches, arrest lanyards, positioning lanyards, overalls, safety vests, and safety footwear should also be provided to wind turbine workers.

Tool and equipment testing 

A qualified expert should be contracted to test all personal protective, safety, and rescue equipment, including fall arrest protection systems, ladders, elevators, electric hoists, pulleys, and cranes. A certified expert should also inspect all of the electrical tools used in the maintenance or servicing of wind turbines.

Active weather monitoring 

Severe weather conditions pose one of the most alarming threats to wind energy workers’ safety, especially as wind turbines are vulnerable to lightning strikes. Where technicians perform work on wind turbines during storms, strong winds, ice or snow, or bouts of lightning, the propensity for fires, falls, electrocution, and other potential accidents and injuries to occur significantly heightens.

Site managers should monitor weather forecasts and track wind, storm, lightning, and freezing reports. A proactive safety precaution can be to subscribe to mobile alerts regarding specific parameters set by the forecaster to reflect how weather conditions may affect the wind turbine’s location on your site.

By exercising these five key safety precautions, wind farm owners can make a conscious effort to protect the safety of wind turbine workers. ANEMOI offers comprehensive wind turbine services, from gearbox oil changes to scheduled maintenance and other services. For more information, contact us today.

The wind turbine and maintenance market will continue to grow at an exponential rate. This is according to a report which estimates an expected CAGR of around 8.54% in the sector until 2025. It should come as no surprise, as the benefits of this form of renewable energy have been poised to be undeniable in the years to come. Wind energy has continued to become cheaper and power generation in this form has also expanded to offshore projects, where even more wind can be captured and converted. But with a growing industry, comes maintenance. ANEMOI has compiled the perfect package of services we offer to our customers.

Scheduled maintenance 

Wind turbines need to be consistent, and we understand that. Our wind technicians lubricate moving parts on different components and check connections to ensure the proper operation of generators and other equipment. We offer this service two to three times per year to ensure that your systems operate optimally. 

Gearbox oil changes 

Our staff are highly analytical when changing gearbox oil, taking every care to ensure that your equipment is working at its peak performance. We have four temperature controlled segregated oil tanks for waste, flush, rinse, and filtered new oil.

Manpower augmentation 

We understand that wind energy projects are demanding, which is why we provide short and long term skilled and qualified staff to assist where you might need them. 

Retrofits

Yes, parts have a lifespan, but some components can be replaced or retrofitted to give your assets more time to be online.

The only guarantee to keep your wind turbines working when they need to, is to have them consistently maintained on a schedule. ANEMOI offers technical expertise and comprehensive wind turbine maintenance and servicing – get in touch with us today to discuss how we can assist you.

The development of the U.S. offshore wind energy indicates that if we were to harness power generated from the wind alone, it could be enough to keep the entire country’s lights on, and then some. With copious natural resources on the East and West Coasts, as well as in the Great Lakes, all indications are that the U.S. will be putting more focus on developing and investing in offshore wind power.

Offshore wind energy projects in the U.S. 

It’s hard to imagine that the first offshore wind project, the Block Island Wind Farm on Rhode Island, only came online in 2016. Fast forward just a few years to 2020, and there are now 15 active commercial leases to develop offshore wind projects in the U.S. The Department of Energy suggests that if stable policies were to be in place, the country could develop as much as 86 GW through offshore projects by 2050, recognising the potential benefits to be reaped from these undertakings. 

The first wind project in federal U.S. waters, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, just recently installed two required turbines in June 2020, which will have a 12 MW generation capacity. While the project is still undergoing testing, it is expected to start operating commercially by the end of 2020.

The advantages of these projects do, of course, also come with their own ripple effect of driving economic growth in various other industries that will assist with the construction. The American Wind Energy Association reported early in 2020 that 83 000 jobs could be created by 2030 from the development of 30 000 MW offshore wind along the East Coast. Add to that, the AWEA estimates that it could also add $25 billion in annual economic output by that time.

For any commercial offshore wind energy questions or advice, the qualified team at ANEMOI are here to assist you. Our services include gearbox oil changes, scheduled maintenance, manpower augmentation, and retrofits. ANEMOI is here to assist you with all your offshore energy projects – get in touch today.

With trends indicating that the production cost of renewable energy has continued to become cheaper over the last 10 years, it’s no surprise that the sector has gained all the hype it deserves. Wind and solar energy has not only become more affordable, but it also offers the appeal to businesses who want to leverage their reputation of being conscious of their social and environmental responsibility. Here are a few of the top renewable energy conferences in the US that should be making it onto your calendar.

Renewable Energy Markets/REM 

Considered to be one of the most important annual forums to discuss the usage of renewable electricity from state-wide to households, this conference boasts attendance from leaders of federal and state governments, to corporate purchasers and international marketers. 

Smart Energy Summit 

With topics ranging between “Smart Home” to “Impacting Consumer Behavior”, and “Adoption and Innovative Business Models”, the scope of this summit attracts thousands of attendees from various renewable energy sectors.

KPMG Global Energy Conference 

If you’re looking to attend a conference that will share new insights, tools and strategies to help confront challenges in the industry, join thousands of delegates from leading energy companies to attend this one.

Financing Wind 

The premier conference for wind energy brings hundreds of financiers to investors together each year. This is the perfect platform to network and expand your knowledge on how to improve your renewable energy projects.

North America Smart Energy Week 

This is one of the largest forums for renewable energy professionals in North America, where sector leaders get to network, share knowledge, and discuss the industry over four days.

ANEMOI offers an extensive maintenance checklist for any and all of your commercial wind farm needs. If you would like to discuss gearbox oil changes, scheduled maintenance, manpower augmentation, or retrofits, get in touch with our qualified team for help or advice on your renewable energy projects.