The 13% blind spot: Why proactive yaw maintenance is the key to turbine uptime

We all know that proactive operations and maintenance (O&M) beats reactive firefighting, especially as owners and operators face mounting pressure to maximise energy production and extend the lives of their ageing fleets. But knowing is easier than doing.

With so many critical components at risk of failure at any given time, it can be incredibly difficult to know where to prioritise resources. This makes it dangerously easy to overlook the systems quietly costing you the most. While gearboxes, blades and drivetrains often steal the maintenance spotlight, recent industry reliability data shows that yaw system failure rates can be as high as 6.7% and they account for approximately 13.3% of total wind turbine downtime. 

So, now you know where to focus, but how can you actually be proactive in practice?

In this Windpower Monthly webinar, sponsored by Svendborg Brakes, industry experts explore how to transition your yaw system maintenance from a reactive headache to a reliability-focused strategy. Drawing on decades of global experience, the panel will break down the true cost of yaw misalignment and share practical steps to protect energy production, reduce operational risk and extend asset life.

We explore:

  • How to identify the early warning signs of yaw system underperformance before they lead to outages.
  • Proven strategies for moving from reactive maintenance to proactive inspection and system monitoring.
  • When to repair versus replace damaged yaw brake and clamping systems.
  • How proper yaw maintenance impacts structural integrity and successful lifetime extension programs.

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