Wind turbines blades become damaged in service, due to leading edge erosion, lightning strikes, contamination and fatigue. If left, this may progress to cause aerodynamic losses that reduce power output and can ultimately lead to structural failure.

There are proven ways to repair blade damage on onshore turbines, but, until last year, no one had successfully repaired offshore blades in situ using these methods.

Rotos 360 Ltd, a wind turbine service company based in Norfolk, in a project supported by Innovate UK, demonstrated that a suspended access platform can be deployed from the deck of a service vessel. Combined with rapid UV cure resin systems and other innovations such as 24-hour working, and using a walk-to-work Offshore Support Accommodation vessel, they have been able to increase productivity and reduce the cost of blade maintenance.

This talk, which will be mostly non-technical, will use photos and videos to show aspects of the operation and repair of offshore wind turbine blades. We will give a quick tour of an offshore wind turbine, describe the problems of leading edge erosion and other damage, demonstrate how it can be fixed, show what it is like to work at heights in an offshore environment, and note how engineering is reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind.

Date: Monday 23 November 2015

Time: Refreshments served from 18.30. Talk starts at 19.00. Finishes around 20.30 following discussion.

Venue: UTC Cambridge, Robinson Way (off Long Road), Cambridge, CB2 0SZ.

University Technical College Cambridge (UTC Cambridge), near Addenbrookes, opened in 2014 to teach Biomedical and Environmental Science and Technology for 14 to 19 year-olds.

Parking: Parking is available at UTC Cambridge. Overflow parking is available nearby at Long Road Sixth Form College.

Free to attend. Booking preferred to guarantee a seat and help us plan.

This talk is open to the public and is suitable for young people, students and engineers. You are encouraged to pass on this invitation and bring with you colleagues, friends and family who are interested in renewable energy, composites, and marine operations.

A poster to advertise this event can be downloaded here.

This event is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Beds and Cambs area.