Case studies
Case Study: High Lonesome Wind Farm
As the United States continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, the High Lonesome Wind Farm has emerged as an important icon in this transition. Endiprev’s partnership with Nordex at this landmark project highlights our core and work.
Since 2021, Endiprev has proudly partnered with Nordex on the High Lonesome Wind Farm project in the United States, in Upton and Crockett counties (West Texas).
This collaboration has played a crucial role in advancing renewable energy production while showcasing Endiprev’s commitment to safety, technical excellence, and operational efficiency. From safety protocols to troubleshooting, our expertise ensured seamless execution and valuable outcomes for Nordex and its stakeholders.
High Lonesome Wind Farm stands as a benchmark in the wind energy sector, comprising 114 turbines, model Acciona AW-3000/132 (power 3 000 kW, diameter 132 m), from Nordex, with a combined capacity of 500 MW — enough to power approximately 150,000 households annually.
Scope of work at High Lonesome
The collaboration involved implementing Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedures to ensure the safe isolation of energy sources during maintenance operations. These protocols were rigorously applied across all turbines, reducing risks and reinforcing safety as a core value.
Additionally, Endiprev technicians provided technical support through troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving issues proactively. This work required precision and adaptability to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Coordination across teams was also essential to meet compliance and logistical demands. The support included:
- People Team: securing individual work permits for technicians.
- Logistics Team: organizing travel and accomodation logistics.
- Compliance Team: ensuring adherence to Nordex safety guidelines and local standards
Safety Paperwork & Specialized Tasks
For tasks such as tower and height work, our technicians completed detailed safety paperwork, including Job Safety and Environmental Analysis (JSEA) documents.
JSEA systematically identifies and mitigates potential hazards associated with specific tasks, ensuring that work is performed safely and efficiently. This process enhances safety awareness, improves job knowledge, and fosters better communication between supervisors and workers, ultimately reducing workplace accidents and injuries.
Training and Technician Development
This project became a benchmark for talent development. Over the four years of the project, Endiprev hired and trained more than 100 technicians, many with no prior experience, offering intensive training in safety and maintenance. This served as an entry point for new professionals in the wind energy industry, preparing them for future challenges.
Over time, the team evolved to include American team leaders, ensuring local control and continuity of the project.
Alicia Cunsolo, a technician who played a key role at High Lonesome, shared her journey:
“One of the biggest challenges I faced was adapting to an entirely new environment, both technically and physically. Entering the wind turbine field required me to learn from scratch about electrical systems, working at heights, and handling heavy tools. Over time, I focused on developing my technical skills and fostering teamwork, which helped me grow personally and professionally.”
Reflecting on the training process for new technicians, Alicia spoke of the importance of practical and theoretical learning:
“The process starts with safety and system foundations, followed by supervised practical training. Adapting to the scale and complexity of the equipment can be challenging at first, but proper mentorship builds confidence quickly.”
Her experience illustrates the strong team dynamics fostered at High Lonesome, where collaboration and mentorship played a crucial role in the project’s success.. One memorable moment she shared highlights this growth:
“During a turbine malfunction, I initially feared the issue might have been my fault. My colleagues, including our shift Lead, quickly came to assist, and we resolved the problem together. They turned it into a learning moment, teaching me how to handle similar issues confidently in the future. This experience demonstrated the strength of teamwork and collective growth within our team.”
The results of our work
The impact of our collaboration can be measured in both productivity and human development:
- Hours Worked: A total of 136,265.07 hours were dedicated to the project.
- Team: More than 100 technicians participated, with a peak of 25 professionals simultaneously in 2022.
- Training: Opportunities were provided for new technicians to learn the basics of the industry.
Annual Highlights:
| Year | Hours Worked | Number of Technicians |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,529.77 | 48 |
| 2022 | 51,875.62 | 61 |
| 2023 | 46,516.07 | 32 |
| 2024 | 16,343.62 | 20 |
| Total | 136,265.07 | >100 |
The year 2022 stood out as the most active, both in hours worked and the number of technicians involved. This collaboration is a testament to Endiprev’s capacity to deliver high-quality results in complex environments. Here are some of the benefits:
- Enhanced productivity by reducing downtime through efficient troubleshooting.
- Cost savings by maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing risks.
- Peace of mind for Nordex, knowing that safety and compliance were expertly managed.
The High Lonesome Wind Farm project has provided Endiprev with a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate its expertise in renewable energy maintenance.
As our journey at High Lonesome comes to a close, we look forward to new challenges and opportunities to contribute to a sustainable future.