The University of Sheffield has been named as the academic partner in the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s (www.ore.catapult.org.uk) new Powertrain Research Hub (PTRH), focusing on the next generation of offshore wind turbine powertrains to improve their operation, reliability and performance.

The university is renowned for its expertise in the fields of electrical machines, power electronics, controls and energy conversion and storage.

The PTRH will support the development of future technologies for larger turbines and research solutions for improving turbine relia-bility and availability.

The Hub’s key objectives are: reliability improvement and advanced test methodologies; advanced health condition monitoring and prognostic technologies; and the development of next-generation powertrain components for larger-size wind turbines.

The research will also focus on minimising human interventions throughout the life of the wind turbine — an area that has attracted the support of GE Renewable Energy, as it is a good fit with its recently announced ‘Stay Ashore!’ research collaboration with the Catapult, aimed at minimising the time people have to spend offshore.

The Catapult already has a strong track record in powertrain testing, research and development and recently signed a five-year collaboration agreement with GE Renewable Energy to advance next-generation turbine technologies,
including the Haliade-X 12 MW, which is currently the most powerful wind turbine in the world.

David Stone, the University of Sheffield’s scientific director, said: “The University of Sheffield sees working with ORE Catapult as a fantastic opportunity to apply its cutting-edge research ideas to the rapidly expanding field of green energy generation solutions.

"The synergies brought about by the Powertrain Research Hub will not only bring benefits for the University and the offshore wind industrial sector, but also consumers as a whole — through higher-reliability lower-cost electricity generation.”