OWST (Offshore Wind Simulation Training)

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£1,188,780

July 31, 2022

Oct. 31, 2023

The move towards sustainable energy generation means the Offshore Wind energy generation sector is a growing market globally. The UK is a leading proponent of the deployment and exploitation of offshore wind. Inherently, offshore wind platforms are dangerous work environments with rigorous health and safety standards. The increase in the production of offshore wind will require increased staff numbers and an innovative solution is needed to train, retain and upskill staff.

This application will aim to develop a training solution for the offshore wind- industry; wind-farm developers, OEMs and training companies. We will utilise simulated training using VR headsets to create virtual environments where users can undertake interactive training on a range of safety and operations modules tailored to offshore platforms.

Many operational scenarios are difficult and expensive to recreate in real life training. This is a challenge faced by other industries particularly aviation and military training. These industries have long relied on simulators to overcome this obstacle and better prepare individuals for the hazardous work they undertake. However simulation training is traditionally expensive to create.

There is currently no similar virtual offering available to offshore wind operators. The cost and technical capabilities required to develop simulation modules is prohibitive. However recent advances in virtual reality technology is opening up simulation training to non-traditional industries with smaller training budgets. By combining VR, big data and business model innovation, this project will bring simulation training to the offshore wind industry.

VRAI International is an SME based in Gateshead in the North East of England. It has previously collaborated with Durham University to develop a first, test simulation training module under the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership. VRAI now wishes to develop additional training modules to create a minimum viable product (MVP) for market participants to assess and then bring to scale at the next stage.

This industrial-research project will expand on engagement with industry participants to identify the essential training modules required, how users of the modules will interact with and learn using the simulation environments and then develop an additional test modules. These will be built upon our own HEAT simulation platform creating a minimum-viable- product (MVP) of training modules. We will also engage with industry stakeholders to produce a sustainable business-model and commercialisation-plan for the roll-out of the business over a five-year period.