ONYX InSight, a predictive analytics partner that gives asset owners independent clarity and control over their operations, has rolled out an advanced monitoring digital platform for major U.S. wind power producer, BP Wind Energy (BP). The project has seen 10 of BP's wind farms in the United States, totalling 1.2GW, incorporated into ONYX InSight's Fleet Monitor platform. 

As the installed asset base in the United States continues to expand and mature, maintaining control over operational and financial performance is a core focus for wind power producers, and has driven rising demand for innovative predictive maintenance solutions. But, with a diverse range of installed turbine technologies and condition monitoring systems, managing - and acting on - critical performance data spanning entire fleets poses a substantial challenge.

ONYX InSight's hardware-agnostic Fleet Monitor platform brings together data streams from multiple drivetrain technologies and turns them into valuable insight. This insight enables project owners to detect developing failures months before action is required, predict the remaining useful life of components and make informed decisions about where and when to send out inspection and repair teams. In turn, this drives down overall maintenance expenditure and minimizes asset downtime, reducing the levelized cost of energy produced by the turbine fleet. The Fleet Monitor platform forms part of an integrated offering that includes a powerful combination of condition monitoring hardware, software and advanced predictive analytics services.

ONYX InSight's expansion of BP's monitoring digital platform has been undertaken in three phases. In 2016, 242 wind turbines were integrated into ONYX InSight's Fleet Monitor platform, then in 2017, 52 additional turbines were added to this platform, having been retrofitted with ONYX InSight's high-performance condition monitoring hardware, ecoCMS. A further 291 turbines are being fitted with ecoCMS and incorporated within Fleet Monitor throughout 2018. 

With ongoing support from the ONYX InSight team, data and analysis produced by this integrated digital platform is being monitored centrally at BP Wind's Remote Operations Center in Houston, giving BP an in-depth understanding of drivetrain equipment performance across a fleet that comprises 5 different turbine models and 10 different gearbox makes.

Ashley Crowther, Group Vice President at ONYX InSight, said: "BP Wind is adopting best practice with an integrated approach to predictive maintenance that is driven by data, but underpinned by robust engineering principles. This brings tangible advantages in the form of reliable performance, reduction of OPEX costs, and higher asset value - all of which will ultimately be passed on as cost savings to consumers."

"Investing in our predictive maintenance capabilities forms an important part of our commitment to leading-edge technologies that enhance the safety and reliability of our operations. ONYX InSight was able to offer a solution that can be readily retrofitted to the diverse range of technologies employed within our fleet." said Alistair Warwick, vice president of BP Wind Energy.

ONYX InSight | www.onyxinsight.com