Equipment failures in renewable energy systems can have serious impacts. A single malfunction—whether it's a pump in a hydropower plant or a gearbox in a wind turbine—can halt operations for weeks, result in high repair costs, and cast doubt on the reliability of clean energy sources. A study analyzing over half a million operational records revealed dozens of failures in components such as generators, gearboxes, bearings, and transformers. These incidents highlight the challenges faced in environments where alternative energy systems operate—harsh conditions with exposure to temperature extremes, moisture, and mechanical stress. When failures occur, remote locations often make repairs difficult and expensive. While predictive maintenance aims to reduce these risks, traditional inspection methods have limitations. For instance, visual inspections from the ground often miss early signs of internal component wear in wind turbines, and climbing towers for hands-on checks involves safety risks and time. Yet, understanding the health of critical equipment is essential to preventing small issues from becoming major failures. 

Equipment failures in renewable energy systems can have serious impacts. A single malfunction—whether it's a pump in a hydropower plant or a gearbox in a wind turbine—can halt operations for weeks, result in high repair costs, and cast doubt on the reliability of clean energy sources. A study analyzing over half a million operational records revealed dozens of failures in components such as generators, gearboxes, bearings, and transformers. These incidents highlight the challenges faced in environments where alternative energy systems operate—harsh conditions with exposure to temperature extremes, moisture, and mechanical stress. When failures occur, remote locations often make repairs difficult and expensive. While predictive maintenance aims to reduce these risks, traditional inspection methods have limitations. For instance, visual inspections from the ground often miss early signs of internal component wear in wind turbines, and climbing towers for hands-on checks involves safety risks and time. Yet, understanding the health of critical equipment is essential to preventing small issues from becoming major failures.