GE Renewable Energy and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult are partnering on a £9m research project that aims to reduce the time workers need to spend offshore. The four-year 'Stay Ashore!' programme will focus on three pillars, including reliability by design, which will primarily cover validation of key wind turbine components. In addition, enabling full remote operability and troubleshooting of the turbines through advanced digital functionality to reduce the need to go offshore for unplanned events. Finally, the use of robotics for planned maintenance events, in particular repetitive tasks and inspections, as well as activities in areas that are difficult to access. The partnership aims to further reduce operating costs of offshore wind and is part of GE’s broader offshore wind strategy for the UK to collaborate with local partners to drive down the cost of electricity and improve reliability of projects. It also plans to launch technology innovation challenges to UK small to medium-sized enterprises and the academic community, including robotics, blade and tower inspections and repair processes. UK Minister for Energy and Clean Growth Claire Perry said: “We are a nation of innovators and this latest £9m research partnership between GE Renewable Energy and the government’s ORE Catapult is a fine example of how we’re working with industry to embrace cutting-edge technology to ensure the UK offshore sector stays ahead of the pack. “As part of our modern Industrial Strategy we’re putting the finishing touches to our Offshore Wind Sector Deal to create the right business conditions to export this type of expertise around the world to ensure this sector goes from strength to strength.” GE offshore wind business president chief executive said: “By eliminating unplanned offshore human intervention through increasing productivity with digital and robotic tools, in addition to our Haliade-X12 MW performance and design features, we will contribute significantly to reducing the cost of offshore wind energy.” ORE Catapult chief executive Andrew Jamieson said: “This further strengthening of ORE Catapult’s partnership with GE Renewable Energy will see significant investment in nationally important R&D, growing not only our expertise but providing opportunities for the UK supply chain to capture domestic and international market share in an offshore wind market expected to be worth £30bn per year by 2030.”
GE Renewable Energy and the UK government's Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult have launched a £9m ($11.6m) 2030 programme called Stay Ashore! The programme is aimed at reducing the time workers spend offshore by improving wind turbine reliability, enabling remote operation and troubleshooting of turbines, and the use of robotics for maintenance. The programme seeks to reduce operating costs for offshore facilities. It will also launch technology challenges for UK small and medium-sized companies and the academic sector, seeking innovations in the areas of robotics, blade and tower inspections and repairs.