Inevitably, even a company that provides service for wind turbines has to deal with the topic of the coronavirus. First, the good news: OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) as well as ISPs (Independent Service Providers) both seem to be well-positioned in the crisis – in Germany as well as at the international level. Why is this the case, and what do we need to bear in mind?  

Generally speaking, service for wind turbines has been classified as 'systemically important' during the coronavirus pandemic, and this means that the industry can draw from an expanded pool of options to keep its work going. Nevertheless, in addition to the recommendations and regulations issued by authorities, there are also highly individualised conditions in different countries in terms of the tasks involved in the areas of organisation and human resources, including the personal situations of employees. Actions and reactions in the crisis call for a high degree of agility and dedication.

What keeps turbine service going?  

As with all companies, the primary goal of a service provider is to do billable work, i.e. to achieve its business objectives or, more specifically, to fulfil its contracts. While most office activities are now being carried out from home, service for wind turbines is operating almost as usual. Existing crisis strategies have been developed further and new measures have been rigorously implemented, including:

• Avoiding mixing teams with each other
• Suspending or reducing training and courses, or switching to online forms 
• Reducing travel activities as much as possible 
• Avoiding/reducing contact related to service activities 
• Strengthening and expanding protective measures and equipment  
• Adapting work organisation

One key advantage is the relatively remote location of wind turbines. This means that there is no risk of infection. However, organising operations often involves more work now. Not just for larger deployments with several teams but also for standard operations. If an overnight stay is necessary, employees have to be provided with all necessities. What these necessities include may depend on how remote the location is. It is often impossible to provide important support functions from a home office, such as spare parts management and remote data monitoring. In addition to hygiene and protective measures, other models must be applied here, such as working in shifts, being divided into groups (with no contact between them), separation of work areas, remote material transfers, etc.  

Offshore challenges 

There are a number of factors that cause more issues for offshore service, including the need for travelling by sea, staying overnight on board ship, using larger teams or travelling across borders. For example, the necessary border crossings could be made possible by individual official permits. There is also frequent communication with other authorities, such as employer's liability insurance associations, for example regarding the extension and definition of certificates, including in the area of training.  

All of these measures help ensure that Deutsche Windtechnik as well as other service providers can maintain almost the same level of availability as before the crisis. Cases in which force majeure has needed to be invoked have almost been eliminated. However, the dynamic and sensitive development of the crisis calls for continued commitment. Many thanks to all employees in the wind energy industry who are putting in a substantial amount of extra effort with great dedication.