Unhappy with few OEMs, wind power developers prefer own O&M

BENGALURU: Wind equipment makers may be gearing up for a tussle with project developers, as the latter abandon operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts with manufacturers to maintain wind farms themselves, saying they are dissatisfied with the performance of certain equipment makers.

O&M contracts have traditionally been awarded to equipment makers, who get a substantial part of their revenue from such contracts, although it varies across companies.

Renew Power, the biggest independent power producer (IPP) in the country, has just set up its own O&M unit. The unit hopes to gradually maintain all of its machines – those installed already as well as those to be commissioned in future – on its own.