For over a decade, Spares in Motion has been a key player in the global wind aftermarket, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions for buyers and sellers of spare parts. By incorporating advanced technologies and a proprietary data management system, linked to a dependable network of suppliers and buyers, the company helps owners and operators minimize downtime, enhance the performance of their wind turbines, and promote more sustainable energy practices. With a sales-data-driven approach, Spares in Motion leverages data and knowledge to drive smart decision-making and optimize the management of wind turbine parts at a global level.
Interview with Marcella Mello, Marketing & Communications Manager at Spares in Motion.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Marcella Mello: Procurement Services – “Competitive solutions for your spare parts requirements”.
Structured by a global and multilingual lineup of wind turbine spare parts experts, the Spares in Motion sales managers focus on customers’ needs and understand the importance of effective, reliable, and sustainable operations. With a strong, reliable supply of spare parts and a unique data management system, we offer competitive prices and lead times and handle QA/QC, logistics, and warranty services. Our customers, that way, can boost their administration efficiency while optimizing resource usage.
Refurbishment Solutions – “Sustainable minor corrective parts refurbishment capabilities!”
The Refurbishment of wind turbine spare parts thoroughly reconditions the component, leaving it like new or even in better condition. Spares in Motion expertly manages all aspects of this process, from start to finish, handling QA/QC, logistics, and warranty, and delivering a fully functional and ready-to-use component along with the necessary documentation.
Marketplace – “An autonomous way to buy and sell wind turbine spare parts”.
The Spares in Motion 2.0 is an online platform developed to connect buyers and sellers of wind turbine spare parts worldwide. Through a responsive catalog design and a user-friendly interface, our technologies match users’ spare parts need for new, used, and repaired wind turbine major components, minor components, consumables, complete turbines, repair services, and other services for wind turbines of all brands.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
M.M: Refurbishment of spare parts or complete turbines:
As wind turbines and their components age and experience wear, their efficiency decreases, and downtime increases. Repairing these parts can extend the turbines’ lifespan, enhance resource efficiency, reduce operational costs, minimize waste, and lower carbon emissions by an average of 45%, compared with new parts. Our refurbishment processes involve the identification of repairable parts, the administration of a global network of partners, and the management of all working procedures, logistics, and quality control. We deliver fully functional and ready-to-use components, for competitive prices and optimal lead times.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
M.M: Through the intelligent and responsible (re)use of resources, we offer a diverse range of spare parts, including new, used, repaired, and refurbished components. Our catalog of products and services includes wind turbine main components (gearboxes, generators, power converters, transformers, main shafts, nacelles, wind turbine blades, etc.), where lack of availability of these parts may compromise customers’ productivity for long periods, minor components (control units, IGBTs, yaw systems, slip rings, electric motors, brakes, bearings, valves, batteries, etc.) and consumables (brake pads, brushes, carbon brushes, fasteners, filter and more). Customers can find products from several wind turbine brands, such as Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Ecotecnia, Nordex, Alstom, Suzlon, General Electrics, Enercon, Senvion, and more, for diverse wind turbine types.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
M.M: Spares in Motion is active in the management and supply of spare parts, especially for mature wind turbines whose critical parts are no longer under warranty or supported by their OEMs or undergo aging and wear, leading to diminished efficiency and potentially worsened downtime. We believe repairing and optimizing their components can significantly extend their useful life and improve their performance, ensuring reliable supply chain support and a more sustainable and cost-effective operation — a more competitive solution than buying new parts.
Our participation in repowering and life-extension programs advances our development of repair capabilities and value-added services that involve refurbishing and reinstalling the components from dismantled turbines in other operational turbines. This comprehensive strategy not only optimizes resource use but also supports the sustainability goals of the wind energy sector.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
M.M: The wind energy sector is experiencing transformative changes in its systems of production and consumption. Circular practices are now incorporated from the design and manufacturing phase to maintenance and end-of-life management. Spares in Motion believes a circular supply chain approach can maximize resource efficiency, save operational costs, minimize waste, and reduce carbon emissions. There is an immense potential for achieving significant changes and advancing sustainability goals. Wind stakeholders also seek improved operational productivity, compliance with regulations, and access to incentives such as subsidies or tax breaks for sustainable initiatives. Strategies like refurbishment, circular supply chain management, and collaborative innovation, promote long-term growth and competitiveness, leading the transition to a greener future.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
M.M: CO2 calculator: developed by Spares in Motion, in cooperation with the University of Colorado, comprehensively considers the material’s origin, logistical aspects of its transportation to the manufacturing site, and the environmental impact of waste generated from discarding parts that could potentially be refurbished. This technology assists customers in making informed decisions that resonate with their sustainability goals and inspire them to contribute meaningfully to a greener future.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2024?
“In the last 3 years, Spares in Motion has grown significantly, expanding its global operations to leverage supply chain knowledge to meet customers’ needs at a global level. In 2021, Spares in Motion Inc. was opened in Great Junction, Colorado, and this year, Spares in Motion Asia Private Limited, is opened in Gujarat, India. In the last 10 years, we invested heavily in data management to offer customers what they need, this development will be the main driver for future growth”. – Jochem Sauer, Spares in Motion Managing Director.