- 29-Feb-2012
Muir Data (Formerly BlueDot)
Abstract
BlueDot Analytics is a software company that aggregates wind turbine blade performance data to help make the wind industry more efficient and therefore more cost competitive with fossil fuels. This business venture aims to develop a robust database and user-friendly interface that will attract a dominant share of customers (Owner Operators, Operations & Maintenance, Manufacturers, Regulators, Academia, Investors, Others) across the wind industry, thereby creating a “network effect” that provides built-in protection from competition. The current analog process for capturing blade defects and recording maintenance activities is cumbersome, inefficient and prone to errors. The risk of turbine blade performance issues increases over time and the U.S. wind turbine fleet, although still relatively young, is reaching a critical tipping point where many of the turbines are coming out of warranty in the next few years, thereby raising owners urgency around maintenance optimization. BlueDot's BladSpec database is being developed to help owners better manage this end of warranty (EOW) transition more easily and at a lower cost. BladeSpec also benefits maintenance firms by allowing these firms to serve their clients with better, more robust reporting and quicker maintenance issue resolution. The combined result is better information that can lead to better turbine design and lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for the wind industry.
For more information please contact BlueDot through the iStart website or at www.bluedotanalytics.com
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Additional Questions
Who is your customer?
The primary customers are wind farm Owner Operators (OO) who have invested more than $270 billion in wind energy assets globally. The secondary customers are Operations & Maintenance (OM) firms who are the specialists that inspect and repair the wind turbine blades and many other turbine components. Other wind industry customers include Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), Investors, DOE, Sandia, NREL, AWEA & other Industry Associations, Academia, and many others.
What problem does this idea/product solve or what market need does it serve?
BlueDot's BladeSpec platform brings all wind turbine blade maintenance data into one place thereby enabling fast, easy comparison of various maintenance issues across wind energy portfolios, spanning both geographies and time. This centralization creates efficiencies for analysis and planning for owners, maintenance firms, and various consultants. BladeSpec is a knowledge warehouse, a forum, and a tool for more efficient operations that lowers the cost of wind energy and increases investors return on investment.
Explain how you (your team) will execute to make this idea/product successful? What gives you (your team) an advantage over others already in the market or new to this market?
The BlueDot team is an innovative partnership of experienced software developers, wind industry veterans, and business professionals. This dynamic team has the power to develop the software with an expertly informed user experience. The team plans to develop the software and test it with its primary and secondary users (Owners and Maintenance firms) provided through the teams deep network of wind industry participants. One of the largest operators in the U.S. has already expressed interest in the product. A beta version of the software will be available in the next several months. After the testing phase BlueDot will offer BladeSpec to additional Owners and Maintenance firms and other industry participants. The product will continue to be developed as feedback is gathered from each new customer.
