CGEN Engineering has started a new Scottish Enterprise-supported project to assess how modular generator technology could reduce the operational and lifecycle cost of offshore wind.

The project, titled Feasibility of Modular Generator Drivetrain to Reduce Offshore Wind Operational and Lifecycle Cost, is being delivered through the Scottish Enterprise Offshore Wind Innovation Feasibility Challenge.

CGEN was selected as one of 22 companies to receive support through the programme and has been awarded £50,000 in funding.

The wider initiative is designed to connect Scotland’s offshore wind innovation ecosystem and supply chain with future domestic and international market opportunities.

Through the project, CGEN will assess how its modular generator technology could reduce operating cost, turbine downtime and lifecycle risk in offshore wind applications.

The work will focus particularly on maintainability, scalability and the opportunity to establish future manufacturing and supply-chain capability in Scotland.

As offshore wind turbines continue to increase in size, generator manufacture, installation, maintenance and replacement are becoming increasingly important technical and commercial challenges.

A failure within a large offshore generator can result in extended downtime, specialist vessel requirements and costly repair or replacement activity. In some cases, substantial parts of the drivetrain may need to be removed before repair can take place.

CGEN’s generator architecture is designed around modular and replaceable sections. This approach could allow faults to be isolated and individual parts of a generator to be removed, repaired, remanufactured or replaced without changing the complete machine.

The project will examine the potential value of this approach across the offshore wind lifecycle, including its effect on operational expenditure, availability, maintenance strategy and long-term asset risk.

CGEN is working with WavEC – Offshore Renewables to undertake an independent techno-economic and lifecycle assessment.

This work will evaluate how changes in generator design, maintenance requirements, downtime and component replacement could affect the lifetime cost and commercial performance of an offshore wind turbine.

Fountain Design Ltd is supporting the manufacturing and production elements of the project.

This will include consideration of how CGEN’s modular generator technology could be manufactured, assembled and scaled for future offshore wind applications, alongside the potential role of the Scottish supply chain.

Together, the project partners will assess both the technical feasibility of CGEN’s approach and the wider economic and manufacturing opportunity.

The findings will help CGEN define the development route for larger offshore generators and identify the technical evidence required for future design, demonstration, certification and commercial adoption.

The project also supports CGEN’s wider strategy to develop modular generator products for offshore wind, turbine life extension, repowering and future large-scale renewable energy systems.

CGEN appreciates the support provided by Scottish Enterprise and looks forward to working with WavEC and Fountain Design Ltd as the project progresses.

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