The world’s biggest offshore wind ‘living lab’ is to be created out of Grimsby to encourage the development of digital technologies essential to aid the industry’s expansion.
A £2.3 million project will help accelerate the deployment of green energy to meet climate targets through a 5G testbed, using the port and the first offshore wind farm built out of it.
With huge potential to attract inward investment in the green-tech sphere, the work is being driven by a consortium led by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, which has its operations and maintenance centre of excellence in the town. Global tech giant Microsoft is on board, with network specialist Vilicom, infrastructure innovator JET Connectivity, software solutions provider Accelleran and the Satellite Applications Catapult also collaborating with wind farm and dock operators Xceco and Associated British Ports.
Read more: Industry and academia deliver on offshore wind improvements
Operations and maintenance of wind farms accounts for 25 per cent of the total lifetime cost, and as the sector expands from 13GW to 50GW in the next decade, there is a strong push to drive it down using robotics and autonomous solutions to support necessary inspections, maintenance and repair.
Many new digital solutions rely on high-fidelity wireless data communications that 5G provides, and while it is being installed in new wind farms, they are not available for wider development and testing.
This will allow technology providers to test and demonstrate their equipment in real world conditions. It aims to kickstart a digital revolution in offshore wind O&M in the region, with Grimsby the world’s largest cluster, and attract users from the global offshore wind sector.
Ben George, head of smart operations and maintenance at ORE Catapult, said: “This 5G testbed is a hugely exciting development for O&M in offshore renewable energy, as it establishes the core communications infrastructure for the biggest offshore wind ‘living lab’ in the world. The testbed will demonstrate the benefits of new remote digital solutions that require high bandwidth, low latency wireless communications – aimed at making O&M safer, greener and more effective.
“It will provide a real-world development, demonstration and test zone for robotics and autonomous systems, remote sensors, wearable technology, cyber security, zero emission vessels, smart ports, and aquaculture that will drive the digital future of O&M. This gives UK innovators and technology developers the upper hand as they bring new products and services to market, including for export into an offshore wind sector that is booming around the world.
“We are delighted to be working with our group of expert partners as we seek to transform the Humber into a new ‘Silicon Estuary’.”
To create the testbed infrastructure, two 5G technology development and demonstration zones over the existing fibre network will be built – one at Port of Grimsby and the other within the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm, having operated off Skegness since early 2009.
A total of 15 5G radio transmitters will be placed across five sites including wind turbines and a radio mast, and two 5G solar powered buoys will provide an extended 5G network beyond the range of the 54-turbine wind farm.
Shriraj Gaglani, vice president of product management at Microsoft, said: “Modern connected applications enabled by edge infrastructure and private 5G are going to drive higher efficiencies and more sustainable operations of our global energy resources. We look forward to being a part of this project and partnering with innovative companies in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things to build new Industry 4.0 use cases.”
The project will be funded with £1 million from Innovate UK, an expected £1 million from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and industry match funding.
Simon Hart, head of cyber-physical infrastructure at Innovate UK said: “This living lab investment opens up a realm of new possibilities for UK innovators and SMEs. For the first time, we will be able to develop and test digital twins, AI, robotics and 5G in a totally unique offshore wind environment.
“With the Prime Minister’s announcement of new R&D funding on March 6, there hasn’t been a better time for science and tech in the Humber region. I can’t wait to see the exciting ideas become reality.”
Halina Davies, partnerships and programmes executive manager for the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, has set out her hopes for the project. She said: “We are delighted to be working with ORE Catapult to enable progression of this exciting and innovative scheme and have provisionally agreed support via our Clean Growth Accelerator Fund programme.
“The 5G testbed will create a unique asset, expertise and capability that will attract inward investment from the UK and around the world, enabling innovation in leading edge technologies to be proven in an operational setting, ultimately creating 200 jobs, assisting over 120 businesses and creating 20 new enterprises.”
Port of Grimsby is also at the forefront of marinised hydrogen development and clean maritime initiatives.
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