Lubricants as an Asset

This technical guide explores the strategic role of lubricants in wind turbine operations, emphasizing how effective lubricant selection, monitoring, and management can enhance reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and extend asset life. Rather than treating lubricants as consumables, the document advocates for viewing them as long-term assets within a disciplined fleetwide maintenance strategy.

Key takeaways include:

• Lubricant selection must align with turbine design, operating conditions, and OEM standards to ensure long-term reliability.
• Condition monitoring enables predictive maintenance and supports extended oil drain intervals.
• Standardized sampling and analysis practices are critical for accurate diagnostics and fleetwide data consistency.
• Fleetwide lubrication management can reduce downtime, optimize costs, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Advanced sensor technologies (e.g., wear debris and oil quality sensors) offer real-time insights into mechanical and lubricant health