Collaboration between the Department of Management Science and the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has led to a successful bid to undertake research in the field of risk modelling of energy systems. Collaboration between the Department of Management Science and the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has led to a successful bid to undertake research in the field of risk modelling of energy systems.
The project, funded by the EPSRC Mathematical Sciences Programme and the RCUK Energy Programme will last for 2.5 years and will result in the development of new mathematical tools for the availability modelling of offshore wind farms. Specifically, the research will be concerned with the modelling of state-of-knowledge uncertainties in the growth availability of offshore wind turbines, resulting in a model useful to operators and policy makers.
A multidisciplinary team has been put together to achieve the project's aims: Professor Tim Bedford and Professor Lesley Walls from the Department of Management Science and Dr Keith Bell from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering will lead the different stages of the project, with Professor David Infield of the Institute of Energy and Environment having an advisory role.
This research project will also provide a platform for the development of significant industrial collaboration: Luc Rademakers' (Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands) advisory role will lead into an important international partnership; ESReDA (the European Safety, Reliabity and Data Association) has agreed to devote a biannual seminar to RAM (Reliability, Availability and Maintainability)modelling of wind turbines, allowing for the dissemination of the research to businesses across Europe; finally, Renewable Energy Systems and Augusta Westland have agreed to participate actively in the project, by providing field experience and advice.
This research project will bring together researchers from across the University and also internationally to ensure that state-of-art models are developed with relevance to the industry to support the UK's energy future.