Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 09, 2014
The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI), part of the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at Austin (UT), today detailed the recent successful offshore demonstration of AdBm Technologies’ underwater noise abatement system. AdBm, a portfolio company of ATI’s Clean Energy Incubator, worked with its Dutch partner, Ballast Nedam, to deploy its system at the Butendiek Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea. The test successfully demonstrated an underwater noise reduction of almost 40 dB, a level of performance that is critical for the installation of offshore wind farms, especially those located in challenging environments like the North Sea.
AdBm has developed a lower cost, effective and reliable underwater noise abatement system which enables businesses to meet underwater noise regulations, especially in offshore wind, energy and marine construction projects. The AdBm technology is much more effective acoustically and considerably faster to install that other alternatives, while also safer and more economical.
“The worldwide market for underwater noise control is estimated at $1 billion and nowhere is the need more urgent than the North Sea area where current offshore wind opportunities are greatest, but the environment is the most challenging,” said Dr. Mark Wochner, PhD, CEO, AdBm Technologies. “We are very excited about the results of this demonstration, which is essential for us to get a foothold into Europe. We have great science behind our technology, and this is the first time our system has been proven in a rough environment like the North Sea. European environmental regulations regarding underwater noise abatement are getting stricter all the time, and in Germany underwater noise levels must stay below 160 dB SEL or else risk being shut down. The product worked as expected and our future customers can see firsthand how we will ensure compliance for their offshore construction projects.”
AdBm, along with its partner Ballast Nedam which produces cost-efficient foundation solutions for the offshore wind industry, conducted the offshore demonstration in July 2014. The system was installed at the Butendiek Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea. Testing was conducted during monopile installation by Ballast Nedam’s Heavy Lift Vessel, the Svanen. Utilizing an anchor handling tug, AdBm tested the system during pile driving operations for two separate monopiles at different distances. Data from over 1,000 hammer strikes was collected from a reference hydrophone array and compared to an identical hydrophone array protected by the AdBm noise abatement system. The results validated AdBm’s underwater noise reduction predictions of 40 dB.
“The successful test gives confidence that it is possible to develop cost-effective noise mitigation systems. We look forward to mutually developing and testing the AdBm system and using it on our future projects,” said Edwin van de Brug, Commercial Manager, Ballast Nedam Offshore.”
AdBm Technologies is a UT startup based on research begun at the University of Texas at Austin’s Applied Research Laboratories, a leading acoustics research laboratory. The company formed in 2013 to commercialize the technology through support of ATI’s Clean Energy Incubator, founded in 2001 and one of the industry’s longest established energy and clean technology incubators in the US.
“Experts predict noise regulations to double or triple over the next five years,” said Mitch Jacobson, co-director, ATI Clean Energy Incubator. “AdBm’s technology is right in the center of a big problem with big money implications. Better, it is making a big impact, in the right way, helping protect marine environments.”
About AdBm Technologies:
Privately-held and founded in 2013 as a university-based startup at the University of Texas, AdBm has developed a new method to attenuate underwater noise. Commercial jobsite testing of AdBm’s solution has proved a more effective and more economic noise abatement solution, which is required for many offshore projects in the marine construction and energy industries. AdBm enables businesses to meet underwater noise regulations, which is critical in the fast-growing offshore wind industry, where current limitations result in up to 50% productivity loss for offshore projects, or complete shut downs, estimated to cost up to $1 million per day depending on the project and industry. AdBm Technologies has raised over $1 million and currently is managing a pipeline of 30+ projects interested in leasing its systems. For more on AdBm Technologies, see http://adbmtech.com/.
About the Austin Technology Incubator:
The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) is the startup incubator of the IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin. ATI works with seed and pre-seed-stage companies, helping prepare these businesses for commercial success, with a particular focus on helping startups compete in the capital markets. The Incubator has operated since 1989 with a dual mission: create jobs and wealth in Central Texas through technology entrepreneurship, and provide distinctive teaching and research opportunities to the UT-Austin community. Over the past 10 years, ATI companies have created more than 5,500 jobs, nearly $1 billion in economic impact, and over $20 million in tax revenues in Central Texas.
About Ballast Nedam:
Ballast Nedam produces cost-efficient foundation solutions for the offshore wind industry. By integrated design and optimizing logistics and installation methods, Ballast Nedam is supporting the development of offshore wind energy in Europe. Ballast Nedam targets its strategic focus at successfully acquiring and carrying out integrated projects in the working areas of housing, mobility, energy and nature in the Netherlands and internationally. We will expand related activities in niche markets and work on projects where we can make a difference for the client with our expert knowledge and skills. Ballast Nedam applies a differentiated market approach for its three divisions. With further industrialization of the building process through the use of innovative modular concepts and standardization Ballast Nedam creates enduring quality at the lowest possible life cycle costs for its clients and society. http://www.ballast-nedam.com.
