UWIG Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Users Group Revises Scope, Meeting and Membership Structure
The Utility Wind Integration Group organized the Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance User Group to serve as a resource to utilities, developers, and independent operators as a comprehensive information resource and support group. The Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance User Group was intended to serve as a forum and collective virtual knowledge base for participants to exchange information on the issues most relevant to wind turbine owners and operators.
A New Scope and Approach
The UWIG Turbine O&M Users Group is expanding its level of activity to provide a forum for the sharing of information on actual problems and experiences from the operations of wind turbines and wind power plants. UWIG engaged the services of Global Energy Concepts as a technical and administrative support contractor to assist in facilitating the expanded scope of the user group.
New Meeting Structure
Beginning with the meeting held in Irving, Texas on April 15, the user group will meet for an all-day event. The morning will consist of a Plenary Session open to all user group members, including invited vendors. The topics for the Plenary Session will consist of items of general interest, primarily technical topics dealing with the operation and maintenance of wind turbines and wind plants.
The afternoon session will consist of vendor product-specific Roundtable Forums for members only. The format will consist of open discussions, moderated by a Roundtable chair, centered on a specific wind turbine component or manufacturer of a component, or a specific manufacturer or model of wind turbine. The Roundtable will provide the opportunity for frank and open discussion among users, who will share their information, knowledge and experience.
Informal discussion at the Roundtables will be encouraged through the presentation of case studies, user experience reports describing a problem and how it was solved, or a show-and-tell. Use of components and projected pictures and photos to describe events and illustrate problems and solutions will be encouraged in order to incorporate valuable first hand experience.
New Membership Structure
Membership in the Turbine O&M User Group will be open to employees of UWIG member companies who have an equity interest in a wind plant, are currently operating or have under construction a wind plant, or have a valid contract for delivery of wind turbines or a wind plant (either through immediate or eventual acquisition). Within the companies that meet these criteria, group participation and conference attendance will be encouraged for individuals who are directly involved in the operation or maintenance of the turbines.
Non-member participation will be structured as follows: Vendors, manufacturers, consultants, and other interested parties will be allowed to attend meetings at the invitation of the User Group chair, usually to make a specific presentation or to answer questions presented by the members. Attendance by vendors, manufacturers, or other interested parties will be restricted to their presentation time.
Parties interested in participating in the Turbine O&M User Group, either as a member or an interested party should complete this User Group Membership Application.
UWIG has undertaken these steps in hopes that the change in structure and scope will facilitate the attendance of more wind plant operations & maintenance personnel as well as enhance the program for this user group. Following the Dallas meeting, the Turbine O&M Users Group will meet at a location in the Midwest around the time of the fall meeting, date and site to be determined at the Fort Worth meeting. For more information, please send e-mail to info@uwig.org