GEV’s approach to mitigating days lost through adverse weather was a winner at last week’s Energy Innovation Awards, and saw the company scoop the award for Best Offshore Renewables Innovation.
Judged by a panel of industry experts, the awards celebrate technologies and projects that inspire innovation across the energy sector.
Launched in November 2014, GEV Wind Power’s Habitat enables an engineer to conduct essential blade repair works in a weather-protected environment. The habitat is expected to save the industry between three and five lost days in each maintenance season, potentially returning a minimum of 1-2% increase in annual energy production. It is also anticipated to benefit the industry with longer working days and the opportunity for an extended maintenance season due to the introduction of artificial lighting gantries.
GEV Wind Power has already conducted a number of successful on blade trials and is in discussion with major OEMs about the benefits of the Habitat, with the aim to launch it as an integral element of next generation turbines.
Accepting the award, projects director Alastair Gadney comments: “We are delighted to win Best Offshore Renewables Innovation for our Habitat, which represents a cost-saving solution for both field owners and operators in the wind energy sector. We are exhibiting at the Renewable Global Offshore Wind show at Excel, London in June where we hope to showcase a full-sized model.”
Organised by the Energy Innovation Centre, the fifth annual awards ceremony took place at Hilton Deansgate in Manchester on 30th April.
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