AGENDA

A warm welcome to all delegates followed by a thematic overview of the day.

• How will the UK harness its onshore wind potential - now that planning constraints have been loosened in England - to help meet net zero targets? 
• How is the UK government working with the offshore wind industry to drive investment into new projects? 
• What does the offshore industry want from ‘allocation round seven?’ 
• Exploring Scotland's offshore wind sector potential

• Challenges for offshore blades: anticipating the impact of climate change on wind patterns and the increased potential for severe damage 
• Advanced repair techniques and technologies for enhancing turbine resilience and reducing downtime 
• How can data be effectively gathered when weather impacts the ability to use drones

• Overcoming the challenges of assessing internal damage in larger blades 
• Data capture and accuracy 
• Which new technologies can address the emerging challenges
• The role of robotics and sensors for optimising internal inspections

Q&A

• How can real-time monitoring systems improve turbine performance and support predictive maintenance
• What role can predictive analytics play in analysing historical and real-time data to predict blade failures
• How can machine learning optimise maintenance schedules for wind turbines

Q&A

• What are the biggest concerns around upscaling turbine technology - Growth vs reliability 
• Design approaches to increase blade durability 
• Which financial tools and insurance options can offset costs and mitigate risk 
• How can risks be managed using advanced inspections and pre-installation damage checks 
• R&D: Advances in materials and manufacturing techniques

• What are the latest advances in robotic technology for blade maintenance and repair
• How can robotics technology be integrated with existing maintenance practices for optimal results
• Best Practice

Q&A

• Identifying and mitigating structural damage before installation 
• Best practice and frequency for inspections. 
• How can technology enhance the inspection process and provide better diagnostics 
• Scheduled maintenance - from minor repairs to major overhauls. Best strategies and practice 
• Specifics of offshore blades M&O

Q&A

Devising a strategy for addressing the skilled-workforce shortage.

Future issues: Will bigger blades create problems elsewhere in a turbine.

Contracts and contractual language / Working with insurers: tips and strategies.

• What are the current methods and technologies used in bale recycling? 
• Emerging technologies to advance bale recycling and improving efficiency and sustainability

How can innovations that reduce costs and maximise efficiency and safety shape the future of offshore wind O&M?

• Collecting data from different sources: How to address differences in format or terminology from multiple providers? 
• Solutions for addressing common defects and catastrophic blade failures, as well as handling defective blades 
• How a collaborative approach between producers, R&D, and operators can help mitigate blade damage. 
• How can AI models identify damage and improve diagnosis?

Improving maintenance efficiency: automated systems enhance maintenance efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve overall blade longevity

• Lightning protection systems for bigger wind turbine blades - offshore vs onshore 
• The effects of lightning strikes on blade integrity 
• Repair methods for lightning damage 
• Solutions to reduce downtimes

• What deicing technologies and solutions are available? 
• What strategies are most effective for preventing ice-accumulation on turbine blades?

• What are the newest strategies for efficient blade repairs? 
• How to implement industry best practices for high-quality repairs. 
• Which technology advancements can enhance wind blade maintenance? 
• How best to address an emerging issue of longer downtime as well as longer waiting time due to spare parts shortage?

• How do repair strategies differ between internal and external wind blade issues? 
• What are the different approaches and technologies for addressing internal versus external damage in wind turbine blades?