Offshore renewables projects are relentless producers of big data. While the sector’s turbines are generating clean electricity, a complex network of sensors and systems are generating and logging information about the condition and performance of everything involved – from the turbine’s blades and drivetrain, down to its bolts and even the heart rate of the technicians sent to make repairs. 

This month, we're joined by: 
- Ty Burridge-Oakland, Managing Director of Cognitive Business
- Mike Beizsley, Project Manager for Zelim
- Fran McNulty, Sustainability Lead at VRAI

Episode 27: Data & Digital Solutions - Improving Offshore Wind Asset Operations and Performance

During the opening of FLOWIC (Floating Wind Innovation Centre), our Business Development Manager Tessa Scott sat down with three companies, all of who have worked closely with ORE Catapult, and who have joined us to demonstrate their technologies and services. The three companies are: Pict Offshore, Apollo and Balmoral.

In the podcast episode, you can also listen to the First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf MSP, as he officially opened the facility.

Event Special: FLOWIC opening with... technology demonstrators & the First Minister of Scotland

In first episode of the series, Stephanie Mann, Innovation Manager at ORE Catapult, spoke to three company CEOs who have moved their businesses into the UK's fast-growing offshore wind sector. They share their stories of breaking into the market, pitching ideas to wind industry giants, tackling 'innovation inertia' and outline the newest opportunities for forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

Could you also capitalise on this business opportunity of the century? 

James Barry is CEO of Renewable Parts, which started up in Scotland in 2011 seeing a gap in the market for sustainable supply of replacement parts to wind turbines. By refurbishing old parts, the company has reduced environmental impact and provided the most cost-effective solution to industry. The company is now one of the leading suppliers of parts for wind turbines in the UK, an independent supply chain specialist providing worldwide delivery and a champion for improving recycling rates in the wind industry.
They have forged successful academic and industry collaborations with Strathclyde University and Scotland’s Energy Technology Partnership (ETP). Working with the ETP, Renewable Parts developed original and innovative remanufacture, reconditioning and refurbishment processes for the wind sector. 
www.renewable-parts.com | @RenewableParts 

Mark Lawless is CEO of JBA Consulting, an environmental, engineering and risk group that was founded in 1995 and has since grown to be one of Europe’s leading specialists in environmental engineering and management. They have conducted major studies for national governments and international bodies such as the European Investment Bank, European Commission, Defra and the Environment Agency.

JBA’s Metocean Risk Management team has developed a range of advanced techniques for metocean forecasting and planning which are provided through its proprietary software ForeCoast Marine. The tools enable operators to understand and manage the harsh and often extreme conditions offshore, helping them to reduce the impact on lifetime cost of energy and associated health and safety risks.
www.jbaconsulting.com | @JBAConsulting

Stephanie Mann is an Innovation Manager in ORE Catapult’s Research and Disruptive Innovation Department. She has a particular interest in novel technologies that could potentially disrupt the renewable energy sector. Prior to joining the Catapult, Stephanie came to the end of a four-year EngD with the Industrial Doctoral Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (Idcore), working especially with novel wind in the data science team at E.ON. She is completing her thesis on yield methodologies and resource assessment for airborne wind. 

Through her time at the Catapult, she has used her technical skills and industry contacts to scope possible future collaborations between SMEs, industry and academia. She specializes in space applications for the offshore wind industry. 

See: www.ore.catapult.org.uk or @ORECatapult. She also recently launched her own science channel 'Are Cats Liquid and other science questions': https://www.youtube.com/sciencewithsteph 

Kenny Wiggins is Chairman of Span Access Solutions based in Kinross and Methil, Scotland, is a specialist in alternative access and working at height solutions for the oil and gas, civil engineering, and most recently, offshore wind sector. 

Kenny’s team are currently working with ORE Catapult on a £830k Innovate UK-backed project BASE (Blade Access System and Working Environment) that will develop a tower-mounted blade access system and habitat to provide a stable working environment for technicians. Cost modelling performed by ORE Catapult estimates that the technology has the potential to reduce the levelized cost of energy by 0.6 per cent, or £1.05 billion across the European offshore wind fleet. 
www.spanaccess.co.uk | @Spanaccess

Episode 1: Business Opportunity of the Century

This is the place to discover more about emerging technology innovation in offshore renewables and the way that we will harness low carbon energy sources to meet our future energy needs.

If you are curious about how to harness the world’s tides, launch intelligent ships with robotic crews in UK waters, adapt national grids to the future energy mix or how artists are envisioning the new offshore reality – this podcast is for you.

The ReEnergise Podcast is delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult - make sure to subscribe to the series and you’ll hear a fresh edition each month.

Visit ore.catapult.org.uk and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter on  @ORECatapult and on Instagram @ore.catapult 

ORE Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK Government and is part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries. It is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy. 

Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities and engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector and delivers applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.

Active throughout the UK, ORE Catapult has operations in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, Grimsby, Hayle, Pembroke Dock and Lowestoft. 



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Episode 27: Data & Digital Solutions - Improving Offshore Wind Asset Operations and Performance

The ReEnergise Podcast

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