Wind turbine operations and maintenance is thick with abbreviations. This glossary explains the ones you will meet across our service, guide and location pages.
- O&M: Operations and Maintenance
- Everything involved in keeping a wind farm producing: scheduled service, repairs, inspections and monitoring. See wind turbine maintenance.
- OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer
- The company that built the turbine (for example Vestas or Goldwind). OEMs offer service during and after warranty.
- ISP: Independent Service Provider
- A non-OEM company that services turbines, often the lower-cost option once a fleet is out of warranty.
- LTSA: Long-Term Service Agreement
- A multi-year full-service contract, usually with availability guarantees. See service contracts.
- GWO: Global Wind Organisation
- The body behind the standard safety training for wind technicians (working at heights, first aid, fire awareness, manual handling). Official site: globalwindsafety.org. See technicians.
- IRATA: Industrial Rope Access Trade Association
- The rope-access certification used for blade and tower work. Official site: irata.org. See blade repair.
- CEC: Clean Energy Council
- Australia's peak body for the clean energy industry. Official site: cleanenergycouncil.org.au.
- CMS: Condition Monitoring System
- Sensors and software that watch drivetrain health to catch faults early. See condition monitoring.
- SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
- The turbine's control and data system; its data feeds analytics and remote monitoring. See condition monitoring.
- NDT: Non-Destructive Testing
- Inspection methods (ultrasound, thermography) that find defects without damaging the part. See inspection.
- AEP: Annual Energy Production
- How much energy a turbine produces in a year. Blade erosion and soiling quietly reduce it.
- DFIG: Doubly-Fed Induction Generator
- A common geared-turbine generator type using slip rings. See the generator guide.
- PMSG / PMDD: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator / Direct Drive
- A gearless generator design used by platforms such as Goldwind. See the generator guide.
- LEP: Leading Edge Protection
- Tapes, shells and coatings that protect blade leading edges from erosion. See leading edge protection.
- LPS: Lightning Protection System
- Receptors and down-conductors that carry lightning safely to earth. See lightning protection.
- HV: High Voltage
- The voltages at which wind farms connect and distribute power; needs ticketed electricians. See electrical and control systems.
- BOP: Balance of Plant
- Everything on a wind farm other than the turbines: cabling, substation, tracks and foundations. See maintenance.
- GFRP / CFRP: Glass / Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer
- The composite materials blades are built from. See the blades guide.
- LCOE: Levelised Cost of Energy
- The lifetime cost of energy from a project, used to compare technologies. See wind turbine cost.
- NEM: National Electricity Market
- The interconnected grid covering eastern and southern Australia (not Western Australia).
- SWIS: South West Interconnected System
- Western Australia's main grid, separate from the NEM. See Western Australia.
- REZ: Renewable Energy Zone
- Planned areas with coordinated grid and generation development. Big in New South Wales.
- WHS: Work Health and Safety
- Australian safety law governing height, lifting and electrical work on site.
- MW / GW / kWh: Megawatt / Gigawatt / Kilowatt-hour
- Units of power (MW, GW) and energy (kWh). A modern utility turbine is rated 3 to 6 MW.
Wind Turbine Services is an independent sourcing and comparison service. Definitions are general guidance for Australian wind turbine owners and operators.
