Turbit Podcast, Episode #4: A Collaborative Approach to Operational Excellence with Oliver Kayser (SAB WindTeam)

As wind turbines grow larger and more complex, the gap between traditional risk management and operational reality continues to widen. In our fourth podcast episode, we sit down with Oliver Kayser, Head of Asset Management at SAB WindTeam, to explore how one forward-thinking operator became the first to successfully implement Turbit Blue, our AI insurance solution developed in partnership with HDI Global.

SAB WindTeam: A Different Approach to Wind Development

SAB WindTeam stands apart through their "develop-and-hold" philosophy. Unlike many developers who build projects to sell, SAB WindTeam constructs wind farms with the intention of operating them for their entire 20+ year lifespan across Germany and France.

"We do not develop wind farms in order to sell them later on, but really try to operate them on our own feet," Oliver explains. This long-term ownership approach creates powerful incentives to adopt innovative technologies, while their comprehensive in-house capabilities provided the organizational foundation necessary to pioneer advanced risk management solutions.

Drawing from his 20-year journey through the energy sector, Oliver witnessed how operational complexity evolved. As traditional approaches began showing strain, the challenge became clear: "What happens if in five years these business cases don't work as nice as they used to? Automation and processes and software. It's the only way to go."

AI as Job Enrichment

SAB WindTeam's successful AI implementation hinged on positioning technology as job enrichment rather than replacement. "We have an emphasis on, hey, this is job enrichment. Take this as an opportunity. We can learn about the behavior of turbines. We can learn about AI as such," Oliver shares.

The transformation was tangible. Instead of routine manual data checks and busy work, the operations team could focus on events requiring their expertise. The AI identified significant issues needing attention, while human operators provided essential contextual knowledge the AI couldn't access alone.

When Turbit approached SAB WindTeam about piloting AI insurance, Oliver describes it as "a perfect window of opportunity." After extensive collaboration involving "a lot of meetings and presentations to get everybody on board," the solution emerged as Turbit Blue.

Turbit Blue  — Transparency Creates Value

The innovation behind Turbit Blue lies in seamlessly integrating AI monitoring with insurance coverage. When Turbit's AI detects emerging issues, maintenance activities and outcomes are systematically communicated to insurance providers, creating unprecedented transparency about risk mitigation efforts.

"Without AI we wouldn't have noticed certain things like the pitch angle," Oliver notes, highlighting how monitoring reveals problems that would otherwise remain hidden until major failures occur.

This transparency enables insurers to offer more competitive terms because they can quantify actual risk reduction achieved through predictive  maintenance. SAB WindTeam maintained identical risk profiles for banking while shifting risk away from OEMs who increasingly "don't want to take that risk any longer."

Traditional FSAs increasingly leave operators exposed as OEMs limit liability. Turbit Blue addresses these gaps with "way better conditions" than conventional insurance, with minimal disruption to existing relationships. "Everything stays the same" for banking requirements, while providing enhanced protection against modern risk exposures.

Universal Value Creation

What makes Turbit Blue compelling is its universal value creation:

For operators: Enhanced transparency, reduced catastrophic failure risk, and coverage for liability gaps

For manufacturers: Ability to address issues before major warranty claims occur

For insurers: Reduced claim frequency and better risk assessment capabilities

For the industry: More stable economics supporting renewable energy growth

Oliver's vision extends to industry-wide implications. "What we need to maintain is the variety of players, which makes this industry so lively and so interesting to work in," he emphasizes. Without innovative solutions like AI insurance, the industry risks consolidation toward large corporations at the expense of smaller operators, municipalities, and local communities.

The Path Forward

SAB WindTeam's pioneering experience demonstrates how combining cutting-edge AI technology with practical operational wisdom creates measurable business value. Their implementation provides a roadmap for modernizing risk management: position AI as job enrichment, focus on workflow optimization, and embrace transparency with insurers to create win-win relationships.

As turbines continue growing in complexity, solutions providing both risk reduction and operational transparency become essential for maintaining wind energy's economic viability. SAB WindTeam's groundbreaking AI insurance implementation proves that forward-thinking operators can achieve superior risk management while advancing the broader renewable energy mission.

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Listen to the full episode here:

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