WEICan and ExxonMobil advance new lubricant technologies for wind turbine applications

WEICan and ExxonMobil’s collaboration will focus on improving performance and cost efficiency of turbines by analyzing performance-based data. ExxonMobil lubricants will be tested in real-world conditions and results will be shared with turbine manufacturers and power generators to analyze the lifecycle benefits of next-generation lubricants for wind power.

Scott Harper, WEICan’s CEO, indicated that WEICan is enthusiastic about taking part in this new venture, stating, “We are excited to work with ExxonMobil, a well-established company whose products we have been using for years as lubricants in our turbines.”

“ExxonMobil’s continued collaboration with research organizations like WEICan supports the development of sustainable solutions for our customers,” said Mike Kerby, VP of Lubricants Technology, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering. “This technology has the potential to improve reliability and reduce the total cost of ownership for wind turbine operators, increasing the competitiveness of the wind industry as a whole.”

Mobil’s new Grease and Oil lubricant formulations for wind turbine applications are designed to address a number of challenges wind farm operators are experiencing by improving gear and bearing life, withstanding extreme temperature ranges, and reducing down time. Partnering with WEICan will enable the further development and understanding of how lubricant conditioning and monitoring can help improve the reliability of wind industry equipment.

This collaboration aligns well with WEICan’s mandate of advancing the development of wind energy across Canada through research, testing, innovation, and collaboration. WEICan’s 10 megawatt Wind R&D Park, located in North Cape, Prince Edward Island, is open to other institutes, academia, and industry to be used as a test laboratory.

Harper explained, “WEICan is a research institute whose role is to collaborate with the public and private sector to research, test, and validate new technologies.”

About the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan): WEICan, a non-profit research institute located in North Cape, Prince Edward Island, has been leading the development of wind energy across Canada through research, development and demonstration; technical testing and consultation; and outreach since its formation in 1981.