A cinematographer whose work has featured in high profile documentary series such as the BBC's Planet Earth has turned his hand to the offshore sector.
David Baillie runs Gateshead-based Wildcat Films and has travelled the world specialising in wildlife filming for a variety of TV programmes - including the aerial footage of Antarctica for the David Attenborough series Frozen Planet. Now, the award-winning creative is hoping to launch a new business providing services to wind farm operators using skills and technologies he has brought together from the world of film.
As one of 10 companies among the latest cohort of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult's Launch Academy programme, Wildcat is developing environmental surveying services - particularly the observation of birds around proposed and existing wind farms. And Mr Baillie hopes to land grant funding to support the idea.
Read more: Top flight production studio launches at Gateshead's PROTO to bolster region's TV and film prowess
He explained: "We pioneered all of the aerial filming in Antarctica for the first series of Planet Earth and Frozen Earth. It was obvious that the camera system we had was quite useful to the scientists who were working down their to monitor wildlife, and we set up a couple of trials there.
"When I came back I set up a company to do the aerial filming for offshore wind farms - the monitoring of birds. I knew about that because way back in 2000, my company made the 'making of' film for the UK's first wind farm off Blyth. Right from the word go, I've had this link with the offshore world."
The system devised by Mr Baillie cannot see through clouds and does not work well at night - meaning monitoring is not comprehensive. But now,his work with two separate companies has revealed a potential solution to that problem.
RVL Aviation specialises in operating airborne radar systems for maritime surveillance purposes and spraying of oil slicks on the sea while NLAI uses artificial intelligence analysis of radar data from satellites to identify shipping patterns. Combined, the two firms' technologies could be finetuned to identify and track birds for wind farm operators that need to gauge environmental impact and prevent birds hitting wind turbines.
The existing technology can also be used to monitor fishing boats around wind farms - some of which switch off automatic identification systems (AIS) systems that track vessels' whereabouts. As part of the Launch Academy programme, Mr Baillie hopes to create an investment proposition and access funding to get the idea off the ground.
Launch Academy, set up in 2019 to enhance the UK's offshore wind supply chain, has seen 28 companies progress through the programmes with more than £15m raised in investment and 50 jobs created. Wildcat Films and the other nine participants will now undergo the nine-month scheme which is sponsored by industry giants bp, Ørsted, Equinor and RWE.
Alex Louden, senior technology acceleration manager at ORE Catapult, said: "We are excited to be starting this journey with 10 new companies aiming to accelerate their technology and make a dynamic impact on the offshore wind industry.
"Innovation in the UK supply chain is essential if we are to meet the UK Government target of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, and industry focused solutions, such as those pursued by these companies, are crucial to success. In the last three years of Launch Academy, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when innovation and collaboration is championed, and we will continue working with our companies and expert partners to drive the industry forward."
READ NEXT:
Sunderland esports campus expands thanks to increased investment from national body
Boss of North East semiconductor maker renews calls for Government to back sector
Cramlington's Merit enlisted for £150m Moderna vaccine hub scheme
Turbocharge low carbon technology call from SSE for net zero power by 2035
- Read more North East business news here
