Main shaft bearing performance is make-or-break for turbine uptime, maintenance costs, and long-term sustainability. That’s why SKF is investing in wind-specific technologies and support for Australian operators.
Australia’s energy transition is well underway, and wind turbines are now critical infrastructure – and posterchild – for the country’s clean energy future.
As the number and size of installations grow, so do the demands on the components that keep them running. Among the most critical – and potentially failure-prone – are the main shaft bearings
“Main shaft bearings carry the full load of the rotor,” explains Femke Back, Application Engineer at SKF’s Global Wind Main Shaft Application Competence Centre.
“They operate under extreme and variable loads – and because of that, they are one of the most critical and vulnerable parts in the turbine system.”
Of course, bearing failure isn’t just a mechanical issue. It has financial and environmental consequences too, with unplanned downtime driving up service costs, energy losses, and carbon emissions from replacement and repair.
That’s where SKF is stepping in – with wind-specific bearings, advanced failure analysis, and a system-wide view of reliability.
“We’ve been leading main shaft bearing system design in the wind industry for over 20 years,” says Back. “And we see a clear trend for tapered roller bearings (TRB) in the future of wind turbine main shaft designs.”
Understanding typical bearing failures
According to Christian Zang, Manager of SKF’s Global Wind Main Shaft Competence Centre, failure is rarely a matter of bad luck.
“Only 0.5 per cent of bearings fail due to actual damage – the rest either outlive the machine or are replaced preventively,” he says.
“But when something does go wrong, it’s essential to treat it like a forensic investigation.
“Documenting everything – from seals to lubrication history to operating conditions – is how we uncover the real root cause.”
SKF’s global database of main shaft bearing failures shows a clear pattern: more than two-thirds are lubrication-related.
These can include:
- Surface-initiated fatigue due to poor grease quality, insufficient quantities, or contamination
- Standstill corrosion, often exacerbated by water ingress during turbine downtime
- False brinelling – wear marks caused by micro-movements when turbines aren’t turning
“Lubrication is as old as the bearing industry,” says Zang. “But things can still go wrong.”
Engineered for the wind
To reduce these risks, SKF offers wind-specific bearing solutions designed for harsh operating environments, including:
- SRB Wind: An application-specific spherical roller bearing for up to 2x fatigue life and better axial load handling
- SKF DuraPro: A high-performance class of bearing with improved raceway roughness and surface contact – ideal for mixed lubrication conditions
- SKF Nautilus and Nautilus+: Moment bearings that allow for a lighter, more compact drivetrain – now running in more than 10,000 turbines worldwide
These bearings are designed to be more robust under load, better lubricated over time, and easier to mount and maintain – all critical factors for remote or offshore assets.
“As turbines get bigger – we’re now seeing designs up to 25 megawatts – they need lightweight, precise, and compact bearing solutions,” says Back.
“That’s where moment bearings and customised TRB arrangements come into play.”
Holistic support
SKF’s offering goes beyond just bearings. Their global team works with OEMs and asset operators to provide bearing remanufacturing and main shaft repair, remote condition monitoring and diagnostics, and predictive maintenance strategies based on real-world failure data.
These services combine to deliver more uptime, longer bearing life, and a lower total cost of ownership.
“From seals, to surrounding components, to lubrication – it all needs to be considered as a system,” says Zang. “That’s how you prevent repeat failures.”
For more information, contact SKF’s Cenk Ozbilgen, National Power Generation and Metal Segment Manager: cenk.ozbilgen@skf.com
To view recent and upcoming SKF Wind Energy webinars, click here