Key Asset Lifecycle Indicators in the Wind Power Generation Sector

Ensuring an asset management system that considers and guarantees the knowledge and application of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) throughout the asset lifecycle makes a significant difference on the path to green operational excellence in the industry. These KPIs may be designed internally by the organization, but it is also possible to find references from leading companies in the same industrial sector. This allows the organization to compare its own practices and processes with these best practices, a process known as Benchmarking. This research studies the different indicators that may be present in the asset lifecycle of wind farms, to analyze existing best practices and subsequently propose and recommend improvements aimed at optimizing asset management in this renewable energy sector. Below, the results of the current landscape diagnosis are presented to highlight: a) Criteria for defining and utilizing KPIs; b) A basic level of maturity through the verification of the use of a significant group of key KPIs for asset management, such as: economic, technical, organizational, and sustainability indicators; and c) A sample of Asset Management Benchmarking for some key indicators in the wind sector. This was achieved through expert consultation, a review of the state of the art, and a survey analysis of a representative sample of stakeholders in the wind energy sector across Ibero-America, Europe, and the United States. The most notable aspect of this study is that it provided a starting point for developing projects involving knowledge networks of best practices, lessons learned, and KPI evaluation for the wind power generation industry. It is concluded, in light of these results, that the use of a significant group of indicators can open a collaborative space to investigate and recognize best practices in the wind energy industry for the success of an asset management strategy and business sustainability. An example is presented.