Preventing the Preventable: What Wind Asset Managers Should Know About Maintenance Gaps

Wind turbines don’t fail out of nowhere. Most issues — from gearbox faults to blade damage — start small and grow worse over time. But too often, these early signs are missed because of gaps in preventive maintenance. For wind asset managers, that’s a risk you can’t afford.

Maintenance gaps show up in subtle ways: missed inspection intervals, outdated procedures, limited visibility into turbine health, or inconsistent reporting from the field. The result? Increased downtime, unexpected repairs, and lost revenue.

1. Common Maintenance Gaps You Might Be Overlooking

• Skipped or delayed inspections: Even small delays in scheduled service can snowball into bigger issues.
• Poor documentation: Inconsistent logs mean problems get missed — or misdiagnosed.
• No baseline data: Without condition-based benchmarks, you’re flying blind on asset health.
• Reactive-only approach: Waiting for alarms or failures means you’re already losing output.

2. Why Reactive Maintenance Costs More

When you wait until something breaks, the damage is often worse — and more expensive. Emergency call-outs, unplanned downtime, and accelerated wear on other components all add up. A proactive strategy can reduce these risks and extend equipment life.

3. Field Intelligence Matters

Technicians in the field often catch early signs that sensors can’t. Loose bolts, signs of corrosion, or oil residue might not trigger an alert — but they matter. That’s why partnering with a team who combines digital diagnostics with boots-on-the-ground experience is key.

4. Build a Gap-Free Maintenance Plan

• Ensure your inspections are consistent and logged with photos or video.
• Audit historical maintenance records for skipped service intervals.
• Leverage condition-monitoring tools for early warnings.
• Use third-party walkdowns or thermal inspections to verify asset health.

A strong O&M strategy isn’t just about what’s planned — it’s about what’s missing. The gaps are where risk hides.

Start Closing the Gaps

If you’re unsure whether your wind site is exposed to these risks, start with a simple question: When was the last time every turbine was physically verified — not just digitally logged?

Spark Power’s Wind Services team can help you assess your current program, identify risk areas, and put proactive strategies in place.

Read the full article here or reach out to book a field review.

Prevent downtime before it starts. Prevent what’s preventable.