The newly launched Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, based in New York City, has revealed the first round of startup companies selected to receive support to develop innovative ideas in the offshore wind industry.
The six winners were chosen from a panel of 11 finalists participating in a live pitch competition last month and will begin a six-month mentoring and business development program.
One of the selected startups is Boston-based VinciVR, a startup that is using virtual reality to train offshore wind workers. Last summer, the company certified 12 union workers from Massachusetts and Rhode Island in what it says was the first VR training program for wind energy workers.
Working on offshore wind equipment is hugely costly and potentially dangerous, according to VinciVR founder Eagle Wu. The startup uses virtual reality headsets to have workers go inside a nacelle, or the box that sits atop a wind turbine to hold the components that turn the wind energy into electricity. The workers would then move around inside the nacelle and check various components. They also practiced directing crane lifts of turbine blades.
The startups, drawn from an initial pool of 49 international applicants hailing from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan, are:
- Benchmark Labs Inc., San Diego, California: Turbine-specific weather forecasts to improve operational margins.
- Flucto, Germany: Using sensor, GPS and camera data for offshore wind farm installations and increased precision.
- Heerema Engineering Solutions, Netherlands: Software tool to simulate the complete offshore construction process in an event simulator.
- OSC AS, Norway: Industrial metaverse simulation for derisking and cost-cutting offshore wind farm planning.
- RCAM Technologies, Los Angeles: Low-cost, 3D printed, environmentally friendly concrete anchors for floating offshore wind.
- VINCI VR, Boston: Virtual reality for workforce safety and training.
Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, which launched in January, said it aims to help develop promising startups that drive innovation in the offshore wind industry. It is led by Equinor and BP, in collaboration with Urban Future Lab at New York University Tandon School of Engineering and National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium. The program is supported by the New York City Economic Development Corp.
“Shaping the future of energy requires innovation, creativity and agility,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas, in a statement. “The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub provides a one-of-a-kind experience for startups to further develop their technologies on the ground as we’re developing America’s offshore wind energy future right here in New York City. This is an exciting initiative, and I can’t wait to see how these innovative solutions will come to life and ultimately strengthen our industry.”
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