UK Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Michael Ellis MP, has celebrated opening the Great Exhibition of the North with an up-close inspection of one of the largest offshore wind turbines in the world. Virtually speaking, that is.
Mr. Ellis visited the Immersive Hybrid Reality (iHR) Offshore Wind Turbine, part of the Get North Innovation Trail, and was able to make a full and up-close inspection of all parts of the huge machine, checking for faults from its foundations to the top of its nacelle, some 110m above the waves.
The iHR Offshore Wind Turbine, based on the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Fife, has been developed as a training tool to hone the skills of the next generation of engineers in the growing offshore wind sector. It has been adapted for display as part of the Great Exhibition of the North by project partners ORE Catapult, Heriot-Watt University (CyberBuild Lab), Animmersion UK limited, and the Energy Skills Partnership.
Following the Great Exhibition, the iHR kit will be transferred to Newcastle College, where it will become an integral part of the apprentice training programmes.
Great Exhibition of the North is a free, summer-long celebration of the North of England’s pioneering spirit.
The country’s biggest event in 2018, it will pack a programme of amazing exhibits, live performances, displays of innovation, new artworks and unforgettable experiences into 80 days.
The iHR Offshore Wind Turbine can be visited at the Urban Sciences Building, Science Central Newcastle until 9th September (certain dates excluded – visit www.GetNorth2018.com for full details).