Maximizing Wind Asset Performance: Insights from the United Wind Force and Atten2 Webinar.

Insights on Improving Wind Turbine Uptime Through Proactive Condition Monitoring

In today’s fast-paced renewable energy sector, wind power operators face constant pressure to boost efficiency and minimize downtime. On November 21, 2025, Atten2, in collaboration with United Wind Force (UWF), hosted an insightful webinar titled “Maximizing Wind Asset Performance.”

The session explored innovative strategies for managing onshore and offshore wind assets more effectively, with a spotlight on how advanced monitoring technologies can help operators reduce lost wind power and optimize turbine performance.

Below are the key takeaways and insights.

The Core Challenge: Lost Power and Limited Visibility

Wind operators increasingly deal with:

Lost revenue from turbine downtime
Competition in the spare parts market
Difficulty accessing trustworthy condition data

With 67% of spares now non-OEM, owners are shifting away from rigid OEM models toward flexible, proactive maintenance strategies.

UWF’s Role: A Bridge Across the Aftermarket

UWF supports more than 47,500 turbines across Europe and Latin America by connecting turbine owners, OEMs, Independent Service Providers, and parts distributors.

Their supply mix highlights a diverse, responsive network:

54% direct
33% OEM
14% ISP

UWF partners with major industry players such as Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, Eickhoff, AMSOIL and more.

What this delivers: Faster access to parts, deeper technical expertise, and reduced downtime — all helping operators fight lost wind power.

Atten2’s Contribution: Turning Oil Data into Decisions

Atten2 specialises in real-time oil condition monitoring, with more than 3,000 installed sensors and over two decades of development.

Their monitoring philosophy is clear: Seeing transforms uncertainty into knowledge — and knowledge into better decisions.

Their flagship wind solution is the Wind Oil Sensor (WOS).

Wind Oil Sensor (WOS): Early Warning for Critical Components

The WOS, powered by Atten2’s OilWear® S technology (SHAPE SERIES), is an online sensor detecting particles and bubbles >4 microns in hydraulic fluids and lubricants. It converts raw fluid data into actionable insights on wear, contamination, and degradation, actively protecting gearboxes, hydraulic pitch systems, and yaw mechanisms.

Key Features:

Particle Counting & Classification: ISO 4406, six size ranges (>4–>70 microns), supports NAS 1638.
Advanced Analysis: Identifies wear type (fatigue, sliding, cutting) for particles >20 microns and discriminates bubbles.
Oil Health Monitoring: Tracks degradation (%OD)
Fluid Image storing: Supply images of oil being monitored.
Easy Integration: IP65 casing, Ethernet RJ45 (Modbus TCP/IP, FTP), RS485 (Modbus RTU) for SCADA/PC/PLC connectivity.

Top Benefits:

Fast, Accurate Insights: Up to 7× quicker condition assessments, +/-1 ISO code accuracy.
Proactive Maintenance: Early detection prevents failures and downtime.
Extended Fluid Life: Detects degradation and contamination.
Operational Efficiency: Simple commissioning, turbine-ready deployment, lower maintenance costs.
Data-Driven Decisions: Stores 10,000 tests, 100 images, with temperature monitoring.

Real-World Application Cases

Two case studies demonstrated how Atten2’s sensors enable proactive, data-driven maintenance.

Case 1: Gearbox Damage Monitoring

Background: A ZF GPV442 gearbox showed advanced macropitting (ISO 15243 Category 4) confirmed via boroscope.
Monitoring: RSMK tracked oil cleanliness over 93 days (Aug 22–Oct 11) at full turbine power.
Findings: Stable particle levels indicated no further damage progression, later verified by boroscope images.
Outcome: Combined online monitoring and periodic inspections ensured safe operation and informed planning.

Case 2: Particle Counting in Gearbox Testing

For a major wind gearbox manufacturer, long flushing and testing periods were a challenge.

Benefits: Faster testing, improved filtration performance, and reduced operational strain.

Objective: Achieve ISO 4406 cleanliness of 16/14/11.

Solution: Atten2’s particle counters outperformed competitors (HYDAC, Laser), with significantly lower counts during testing.

The webinar made it clear that the future of wind asset performance lies in preventing issues before they cause downtime. Real-time visibility into turbine condition enables operators to plan maintenance confidently, protect key components, and keep turbines producing power. Ultimately, reducing lost wind power is less about reacting to failures and more about using accurate data to stay ahead of them — improving uptime, reliability, and overall return on investment.