Operation and maintenance (O&M) rounds out Gamesa's comprehensive offering in the wind energy manufacturing business: this activity is conducted by a highly-qualified international team, which maintains more than 19,100 MW for 180 customers in 31 countries worldwide.

O&M services are a key element of Gamesa's profitable growth because of their contribution to recurrent revenues, improving margins and generating cash flow.

In 2012, Gamesa provided O&M services for 19,111 MW, i.e. 17% more than in the previous year.  Revenues in the services business rose by 23% to 344 million euro.

The services business is also an essential tool for value creation in the development, availability and profitability of a wind project. In this connection, Gamesa is working on value-added programmes aimed at maximising energy production, boosting wind turbine availability and reducing total operating costs, in order to optimise the cost of energy (CoE) for its customers: Gamesa's availability rate in all platforms and regions is 98%.

More than 71% of Gamesa-installed MW aged two years or more have long-term O&M contracts, evidencing the degree of customer satisfaction with this service. In 2012, the retention rate of contracts expiring in the period was 91%.

Growth levers

Gamesa expects strong growth in operation and maintenance services in the next few years: cumulative sales (2013-2015) will amount to 1.5 billion euro, while profitability in the business is set to double, and MW under maintenance will increase by 29%, to 24,600 MW, underpinned by technological leadership.

Backed by 19 years of experience in O&M and the optimisation of wind turbines, Gamesa offers sophisticated technological solutions. The company is working to boost the development and sale of advanced solutions, including programmes to extend useful lives and improve the power curve, repair services for technology built by other manufacturers, and the supply of spare parts and enhancement of large components, as well as arranging finance tailored to each customer's needs as part of its ongoing commitment to offer maximum added value.

In 2012, Gamesa continued to diversify its customer base, with a greater bias towards customers whose priority is technology, such as IPPS and mutual funds.