RTDT Laboratories: The Venture Leader Cleantech transforming wind turbine data into actionable insights

23.10.2023 15:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Imad Abdallah, CEO of RTDT Laboratories. The Cleantech startup is developing a No-Code deep tech hardware and SaaS platform for creating digital twins of wind energy assets. By integrating sensors and data analytics tools, RTDT automates the assessment of wind turbine structural integrity and uses deep artificial intelligence models to optimize energy production.

Name: Imad Abdallah
Location: Zurich, Switzerland 
Nationality: Canada
Graduated from: PhD from Technical University of Denmark and then Postdoc/senior scientist from ETH Zurich
Job title: CEO & Co-founder at RTDT Laboratories AG
Number of employees: 5
Money raised: we are in the final stages of raising 1.5 million CHF
 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
RTDT Laboratories is developing a deep-tech hardware-software solution for monitoring and diagnostics of wind turbine blades. We call it Aerosense. Aerosense is a MEMS-based aerodynamic surface pressure, vibration and acoustic smart measurement system that is thin, non-intrusive, robust, modular, low power and self-sustaining, wirelessly transmitting, easy to install and cost-effective. Wind farm owners can use Aerosense to monitor blades' surface and structural health to make better decisions about blade repair and retrofits, ultimately allowing the operation costs of wind energy to be reduced. Wind turbine manufacturers (OEM) can use Aerosense to improve their understanding of the aerodynamics, structural dynamics and rotor flow field to optimise their aero-elastic models and blade designs, ultimately allowing the investment costs of wind energy to be reduced and to manufacture safer and more reliable wind turbine blades.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We focus on the wind energy market, specifically addressing the challenge of monitoring and diagnosing wind turbine blades. These blades are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and rigorous operation, making them susceptible to various damage modes. With over 100,000 blades manufactured and installed annually worldwide, there's a clear need for a direct monitoring and diagnostics solution. Presently, there is no established, automated, or permanent solution for this. The cost of an onshore wind turbine blade typically ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 CHF, considerably more for offshore turbines. To meet the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, annual wind energy generation needs to grow at an average rate of about 17%, necessitating a significant increase in capacity additions from 75 GW in 2022 to 350 GW in 2030. This presents a substantial opportunity for RTDT. With our Aerosense solution, we are well-positioned to capture a significant portion of the wind turbine blade monitoring and diagnostics market.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
It all started with the ERC Starting Grant WINDMIL and the SNSF Bridge Discovery-funded research projects at the Chair of Structural Mechanics and Monitoring at ETH Zurich. The outcome of the research is now the spin-off known as RTDT Laboratories AG.
 

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What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
I would like to leverage the Venture Leaders Cleantech roadshow to promote the value proposition of RTDT and Aerosense, engage with the top-notch experts and investors to improve RTDT’s business model, learn more about and from my peers from the Swiss cleantech startups, and hopefully build a long-term relationship with them.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
First and foremost, the top achievement is building a strong and cohesive team, which led to us working on 50 wind turbine projects in various stages of trials and preparations so far this year. 

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
The most challenging aspect is learning to be tremendously patient, and not wanting to have everything done “yesterday”. The most rewarding is experiencing firsthand the amount of passion that RTDT’s mission generates among my colleagues and our customers.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
As a founder of an early-stage start-up, I had to learn the hard way that I needed to spend a significant amount of my time speaking with and learning from a larger number of potential customers to better understand their problems and their needs. 

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
I mostly do one thing at a time, I found that little to no multitasking is the best productivity tool for me. 

What was your dream job when you were a child?
As a child, I aspired to become an archaeologist. My interest in this field wasn't driven by a desire to emulate Indiana Jones, despite the popular association.

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Cleantech 2023 were chosen from over 90 applications by an expert jury. The roadshow in Munich will accelerate their ventures’ growth and expand their international presence. Venture Leaders Cleantech is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich, EY, Helbling Technik, Romande Energie, St.Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke (SAK), Swisscom Ventures, Vaud, and Vischer.