Asset Management Digitalization in Wind Farm Maintenance: A Case Report on the Applus+ Traza Platform

Effective wind farm management involves handling a large number of assets spread over vast areas of land. These assets include not only the generation facilities themselves (wind turbines, power lines, substations…) but also communication infrastructure, the park’s road networks, and the plots of land occupied by the wind installation.

Due to their volume and geographic dispersion, these assets require thorough management and continuous monitoring to ensure optimal performance.

Clients were facing challenges in the day-to-day wind farm maintenance and asset management, such as accessing maintenance data, consulting documentation for the plots, preparing reports for the administration, and controlling maintenance-related costs. Furthermore, the information was scattered across various formats, some of them physical, which led to inconsistencies, outdated documentation, and even missing information in some cases.

For this reason, the first objective was to implement asset management digitalization to create a reliable database that would simplify daily management and enable more accurate decision-making.

We proposed to the client the implementation of Traza, the Applus+ asset maintenance management software, which had already proven effective in several companies in the power distribution sector. This maintenance management platform not only centralizes information but also provides advanced functionalities for comprehensive wind farm asset maintenance.

However, it was necessary to adapt the platform to meet the specific needs of the wind farm. This involved modifying the data model and configuring Traza+ to incorporate all the information related to the park’s assets. This adaptation process was carried out iteratively in collaboration with the client, allowing us to digitize information in real time while fine-tuning the platform to the specific requirements of the project.

Once all asset information had been digitized and made available in Traza+, the next challenge was to implement tools for managing wind farm maintenance more effectively. The key was to be able to plan, execute, and track maintenance tasks digitally, as the staff responsible for these tasks was spending too much time on them. This situation made it difficult to control costs and properly monitor the progress of work.

The integration of tools such as a mobile app for recording field data, QR codes for asset identification, automated alerts, a Lidar viewer, an immersive digital twin, Kanban boards, and GIS-based task visualization significantly improved wind farm maintenance processes. These tools not only increased operational efficiency but also enabled quick and well-informed decision-making.

The next challenge was to integrate environmental monitoring of the wind farms into Traza+. This component was essential to comply with the legal and environmental requirements established in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Through a collaborative process with the park staff and environmental technicians, we developed a module that allows for efficient management and monitoring of these obligations.

In conclusion, the implementation of advanced digital solutions, such as the Traza+ platform developed by Applus+, has been key to addressing the challenges of wind farm maintenance. The digitalization of asset management and the integration of advanced maintenance management software have enabled our clients to optimize their wind power maintenance processes, resulting in a significant increase in the availability and profitability of their wind farms.

Applus+'s comprehensive experience in wind services and advanced technologies was key to the project`s success. Through this digitalization, our clients have gained a key competitive advantage, with better control over operations and detailed visibility into asset maintenance and performance.

Authored by Gonzalo Veiras Carneiro, Head of Knowledge Area – Technology & Digitalization, Electric LN, Applus+.