£1.6m wind energy centre to develop technologies of tomorrow 21 June 2011

A new centre to develop and test offshore wind energy condition monitoring technologies, while also helping Scotland to meet its renewable energy targets, is to be opened at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Professor Jim McDonald, principal of the university, explains that the Centre for Advanced Condition Monitoring – a partnership between the University, SgurrEnergy and David Brown Gear Systems – will develop techniques to improve offshore wind farm availability and reduce the need for expensive, reactive offshore maintenance.

Researchers at the Centre will initially focus on technology to monitor the condition of offshore gearboxes, using remote sensors to detect how they are affected by extreme wind conditions.

"With its vast natural resources and engineering expertise, the UK, and Scotland in particular, are ideally positioned to be world-leading in renewable energy," comments McDonald.

"However, to achieve our ambitious energy targets and realise the potential of offshore wind, it is critical that we bring together engineering expertise through research collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector," he continues.

The news comes just weeks after the university unveiled plans for the Technology and Innovation Centre at Strathclyde (TIC). The new wind energy maintenance centre will work in parallel with TIC and support the UK's offshore wind industry.

"Offshore wind projects can be difficult working environments and consequently costs can be extremely high," states Ian Irvine, technical director at SgurrEnergy. "So quality information on wind farm operational performance is essential to ensure that optimum decisions can be made. We are delighted to be part of this exciting partnership."

And Ian Farquhar, managing director for wind energy at David Brown, adds: "Collaborations across research and technology are central to our work... This collaborative research programme will enable David Brown to develop leading edge condition monitoring technologies and is a great opportunity to bring the very best thinking to the wind industry."

Brian Tinham

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