Specialist training provider Oilennium Ltd is poised to enter the wind energy industry market with its new online wind turbine simulator.

The Loddon-based company, which offers online courses to oil and gas professionals, has secured �17,000 of funding from Orbis Energy and the East of England Development Agency to support the development of an online training programme dedicated to the sector.

As construction of wind energy developments continues to escalate, global demand for efficient training in wind turbine operation and maintenance has sky-rocketed.

Kevin Keable, Oilennium managing director, said that because correct tensioning of bolts is essential to the safety of every wind turbine, Oilennium decided to focus first on this aspect with an online, wind turbine, bolt-tensioning simulator.

Equipment simu-lators provide effective 'hands-on' training and the new wind tur-bine simulator is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of equip-ment simulators, which feature equipment opera-tions, assembly and maintenance.

The development will also help to create up to 10 new jobs within the company, which is also hoping to open an office in Aberdeen and pursue a separate project in Australia.

'It was an ideal opportunity for us to break into the wind energy industry,' Mr Keable said.

'Most people will be familiar with games consoles, which allow players to simulate games, such as tennis, driving, golf etc.

'Our online simulator is a unique piece of software, which allows a user to simulate the actual operations of technical equipment.

'Rather than practising on high cost machinery and with the possibility of making dangerous and costly mistakes, using the simulator, users can get familiar with the equipment and operations, over and over again at low cost and with no risk.'

Meanwhile Oilennium has also appointed Janet Iglesias as learning development specialist to support customers and drive business development initiatives throughout the Americas.

Based in Houston, she will increase visibility of Oilennium in the industry, while building new relationships and providing existing customers with greater support.

'As Houston is the gateway to the North American market, it is the perfect location,' Mr Keable said.

'With Janet as a permanent presence there, Oilennium is now able to offer customers in the region an even more prompt, efficient service.'