The wind energy industry has come of age. As governments have wound down subsidy schemes, wind farms are having to find ways to drive down costs to stay competitive. There is a growing focus on boosting the efficiency of existing assets alongside installing new generating capacity. 

According to research by Accenture the potential for operations and maintenance (O&M) to impact the bottom line has typically been underestimated and not sufficiently factored into decision making. This is despite the fact that it accounts for about 20% of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of a wind farm. 

With workforce costs comprising the largest chunk of the O&M cost component, Accenture’s report highlights a significant opportunity to cut costs by improving the efficiency of technicians, with the biggest opportunity for this lying in the use of digital technologies. Read this Windpower Monthly expert report, produced in partnership with LexX Technologies, to find out more...