Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is expanding its partnership with leading gearbox provider ZF to offer global service solutions for the gearboxes of wind turbine customers to 'lower repair costs, decrease downtime, and limit additional future repairs,' the company announced Wednesday.
The expansion comes 'as part of Vestas' service strategy to optimize the performance of wind energy assets,' a press release read.
'Leveraging the companies' complementary service capabilities and global footprints, the partnership also promotes mutual knowledge transfer, cooperation on training, and joint documentation development,' the statement added.
Through the partnership, Vestas becomes ZF's preferred supplier to perform uptower repair work and ZF becomes Vestas' preferred supplier for shop repairs and replacement units.
Going forward, Vestas and ZF will also collaborate on new repair and gearbox service products that can 'benefit' the industry.
According to the statement, Vestas has 'a long track record of efficiently repairing gearboxes on site, without removing them from the turbine, saving significant time and reducing cost'.
'This expertise will result in unparalleled speed and efficiency offered to fleet owners worldwide,' the company said.
Christian Venderby, group senior vice president and head of service at Vestas, said partnering with ZF would allow them to 'return the turbine to service faster than anyone in the market,' and leverage their extensive volume with ZF 'to have best-in-market pricing, terms and lead times'.
Depending on the customers' asset management strategy, Vestas 'can now deliver everything from a standalone uptower repair to a complete exchange and turnkey solution globally,' according to Venderby.
'With this new partnership, we are expanding our gearbox capabilities and are at the same time lowering the total cost of ownership -- all to the benefit of our customers,' he said.
Vestas designs, manufactures, installs, and services wind turbines across the globe. The company has installed 92 gigawatts (GW) of wind turbines in 79 countries so far. It also has 78 GW of wind turbines under service.
ZF develops, manufactures and repairs gearboxes for the wind industry at plants and repair shops in Germany, Belgium, China, the U.S. and India.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr