As the Italian saying goes, “a cherry pulls another”, after being awarded a contract from Enel (more information can be found here), BKW has just closed its largest operation and maintenance (O&M) contract. This contract reveals a growing awareness of our expertise as a wind O&M service provider in Italy. Combined with its own wind turbines portfolio, as of 2021 BKW will maintain 234 turbines in Italy, with total installed capacity of 431 MW.
Structural growth
This new contract ensures preventive and corrective maintenance services for Enercon wind turbine generators. Therefore, BKW will become Italy’s second-largest maintenance provider for Enercon wind turbines, second only to the manufacturer itself. The BKW O&M Services unit in Italy, which was initially established around BKW-owned wind assets, has now proven itself well suited to offer its services to third parties.
To fulfil this large-scope contract BKW will expand its on-site O&M team through hiring of ten new, full-time employees. These new O&M professionals will join 26 BKW specialists already carrying out maintenance-related activities in Italy.
Interview with Andrea Zappimbulso, Commercial Manager for the Business Unit Wind
This is the second large operation and maintenance contract with a third party in just a few weeks – what do you think this is down to?
I believe this success is a natural consequence of BKW's internalization process of the O&M on its own wind energy assets in Italy which started in 2017. Having acquired a solid know-how on various wind turbine technologies, with an important presence in the region and an intense commercial initiative have allowed BKW to be credible and competitive on the Italian market. What's next? To consolidate and expand its presence on the Italian market and grow in its European focus markets.
What is BKW’s position on the Italian market in terms of wind turbine operation and maintenance services? What does this contract mean for BKW?
Thanks to these first two contracts, BKW is definitively positioned in the Italian market as one of the leading companies for O&M services on the main wind technologies in Italy (Enercon, GE, Vestas, Senvion). We are also already working with other important national and international players (ERG, EDPR, Fri-el) performing services customised to their needs. Moreover, our Group A-rating allows us to target plants, which are with project financing, allowing the clients to overcome easily the required technical/financial due diligence from lenders.
Interview with Francesco Piersanti, Head of Operation and Maintenance Services (O&M) for the Business Unit Wind
BKW is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 431 MW capacity in Italy. What is its objective?
Our goal in Italy and in other countries, where BKW is present with its own wind parks, is to become a reference O&M service provider for the market and an alternative to wind turbine manufacturers. We further intend to expand our technical expertise and service offering. At the same time we strive to achieve an efficient and safe operational management of contracts, through the constant and careful development of quality, environmental and safety management systems.
Does the owner require a guarantee in terms of wind turbine availability and does BKW provide such performance guarantees?
Our O&M contracts provide wind farms availability guarantee. On our wind farms portfolio, we have proven that BKW can ensure availability levels equal or superior to those offered by the original equipment manufacturers.
How does the current situation regarding Covid-19 impact the work of on-site teams?
BKW always puts the health and safety of its employees first. To this end, a Covid-19 committee was set up in early 2020 to define and constantly update specific operating instructions. The technical and office staff are equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment and follow the rules defined in the course of their work in order to prevent infections at the workplace. Despite the ongoing difficult period, we have been able to ensure uninterrupted operations, with almost no impact on performance.
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