ELEVEN-I provides bespoke performance-management information systems for wind farm operators and turbine manufacturers. The systems provide accurate live data under all weather conditions enabling you to minimise damage, increase longevity, increase power generation, and improve efficiency at a fraction of the cost of market competitors.
ELEVEN-I provides a condition monitoring system for wind turbine rotors. Bespoke field-proven hardware, and automated analysis and prediction tools provide users with 24/7 insights on damage and damage causing conditions, and on the behaviour and performance of their rotor. This information can be used to optimise operations and maintenance (O&M), reduce downtime, and risk of catastrophic failures, and increase the useful life of wind turbine blades. The system can be used for prototyping new turbines, investigating blade issues, validation of repairs, monitoring serial defects and for general purpose condition monitoring across whole fleets.
Due to rapid innovation in the drive for larger blades and an ever-aging installed base, there is a significant amount of unplanned O&M spend, second only to drivetrain components. Longer blades and high-tech materials can improve the power production of wind turbines, but there are many teething problems associated with such fast adoption of new designs. Older blades can also have multiple problems.
ELEVEN-I can help bridge the gap between traditional blade testing systems and condition monitoring systems through work with OEMs and owners in test, prototype, and field deployment of the ELEVEN-I rotor information system – allowing stakeholders to understand the behaviour of blades, as well as detect damage. Eleven-I’s ambition is to provide a system for full fleet deployment to make current and future blade designs more reliable and decrease the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE).
ELEVEN-I have been involved in multiple projects with ORE Catapult and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) over the years, including the OWGP WEST programme and a BEIS funded project to improve the maturity of a condition monitoring system. Through this relationship we were made aware of Launch Academy, as well as previous recipients, who had had a positive experience providing information.
Launch Academy has given ELEVEN-I access to great content through the various learning modules. The modules have been well run and through the format of both group sessions and one-to-one support have really made a difference.
The in-person get-togethers have been really valuable, thanks to the interaction with sponsors (who are also potential customers), the rest of the cohort and ORE Catapult staff. ELEVEN-I have also benefited from working with the ORE Catapult blade test team at Blyth, fitting a Rotor Information System to the 107m Haliade X blade to test there.
ELEVEN-I has added three new members of staff in 2023 and has fitted multiple, additional, systems in the field to help both new and old customers understand their blades.
Multiple companies have also approached ELEVEN-I with opportunities for potential partnerships and the tie-in with ORE Catapult’s blade test facility has helped us to further validate our system in the blade test environment. In the future we hope that our offering will be part of the blade test instrumentation suite, providing customers with insights that can be used in both the test facility and in the field.
ELEVEN-I applied to be part of the Launch Academy programme as the company began to focus on scaling up. Different learning modules have helped in various ways to help us achieve an understanding of how to effectively grow as a business, and networking with the cohort, ORE Catapult staff, and sponsors has given us a fantastic view on the offshore wind industry. Launch Academy has been a fantastic programme to be a part of.
All being well, ELEVEN-I will continue to grow and have systems deployed on full fleets of turbines, not just problematic and prototype turbines.
Ideally, OEMs will utilise ELEVEN-I systems throughout blade development, from blade test to full fleet roll out, to provide a very clear indication of blade performance, and give feedback on the design of new blade iterations. Future integration with control systems could also bring significant value to the customer.
“ELEVEN-I applied to be part of the Launch Academy programme as the company began to focus on scaling up. Different learning modules have helped in various ways to help us achieve an understanding of how to effectively grow as a business, and networking with the cohort, ORE Catapult staff, and sponsors has given us a fantastic view on the offshore wind industry. Launch Academy has been a fantastic programme to be a part of.”- Bill Slatter, CEO of ELEVEN-I
