We were contacted recently by Catapult UK regarding collecting the JB29 offshore wind turbine safety equipment cabinet which was fitted to the Levenmouth offshore wind test turbine off the coast of Scotland. Having access to this test facility was thanks to Simon Cheeseman at Catapult and helped with funding from Innovate UK, as this was new ground for us. These cabinets are designed to withstand cyclone/Typhoon wind speeds and after seeing a photo yesterday, of a destroyed emergency equipment chest on a Taiwanese offshore wind substation, the need is very clear.
We were sent a photo of the installed JB29 a while back, but otherwise didn’t have any other contact during this long term test. This was good news as it meant nothing had failed or caused concern. This one was mounted to the transition piece (similar to those supplied to Orsted’s US wind farms) but hundreds more in the North sea are located on the heli-hoist platforms. Thanks so much to Ross Jackson and Simon Cheeseman for all their great support and to Innovate UK for enabling this real world, endurance test, to happen. Thanks also to Orsted, Siemens-Gamesa and Viking Life-saving for your fantastic cooperation in developing the JB29.
Photos curtesy of Ross Jackson at Catapult UK.
