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InterBolt
IGP Priority
Next Generation Installation and Operations & Maintenance
Support received
Funding support
Business support
Intelligent bolt monitoring solutions to eliminate the need for periodic bolt inspections.
Disruptive engineering start-up operating in multiple sectors.
Growing SME, targeting Offshore Wind as a new sector.
Actively seeking ways to develop InterBolt technology.
Business profile
OWGP’s grant funding enabled InterBolt to develop its technology and conduct operational field trials to validate and optimise the product for use in the Offshore Wind sector, with support from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) and Wood. The resulting case study from these field trials has helped the company to secure further operational field trials with other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and operators.
Reduces annual maintenance costs by up to 30% and levelised cost of energy (LCOE) by up to 7.5%.
Reduces health and safety risks and asset downtime.
Greater accuracy than competing technologies (97%).
Bolt inspection accounts for around 30% of the annual maintenance cost of Offshore Wind turbines. These inspetions carry significant health and safety risks for technicians operating at height and with cumbersome equipment. InterBolt is a novel sensor solution that integrates bolt load monitoring directly into bolts or threaded studs, providing accurate, real-time measurements remotely via an industrial internet of things (IIoT) network.
With remote bolt load monitoring, the mechanical integrity of bolted connections is measured autonomously, 24/7, 365 days a year. If a bolt begins to loosen, an alert is generated through the InterBolt Cloud system. This is sent to Operations teams who can then conduct any subsequent maintenance.
Ultimately the technology enables Operators to eliminate the need for periodic bolt inspection which leads to significant reductions in maintenance cost, asset downtime and H&S risks for technicians.
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Opportunity to successfully demonstrate the technology on an operational asset.
Reduces health and safety risks and asset downtime. Development of InterBolt technology to cater for larger bolts, common in the Offshore Wind market.
Detailed case study enabled further field trials with other OEMs and operators.
Before
Before engaging with OWGP, InterBolt was a start-up organisation not yet operating in the Offshore Wind market. The company provided bolt integrity data to operators in the renewables, mining, oil and gas and construction sectors, allowing them to optimise their bolt maintenance and inspection activities. The company was seeking ways to enter the Offshore Wind market through the development of its InterBolt technology.
What they say
“
The funding from OWGP allowed us to accelerate the development of our InterBolt technology to address the unique challenges of the Offshore Wind sector – a process we estimated to take two years instead took nine months. This has allowed us to maintain our competitive advantage over other solutions from Europe and the USA, as well as enabling us to achieve product sales in this rapidly growing industry.”
DR JACK BRYAN HUGHLEIGH
Chief Technology Officer, Sedwell Limited
