– Disrupting our own business model

Entail challenges the status-quo of engineering analysis. By using cloud computing, automation, and data science approaches, they aim to improve analysis. 

We had a talk with Stefan Bøyum Schlömilch, Hydrodynamic Engineering Specialist at Entail in this week’s Valley Voice. 

1. What are you doing right now?

We are in an exciting process of shifting the business model of the company. We have developed an analysis workflow orchestration tool, ”Tailor”, that enables us to speed up our analysis iterations and engineering. This means disrupting our own business model where we sell “engineering-by-the-hour”, so the shift hurts but we believe it is necessary to be competitive in a digital age. We believe that the time of “waiting for the engineer to finish” will soon be bygone. With this tool we cut down time spent on simple analysis tasks, by making our fully automated analyses available to the industry through engineering app services for Operability Assessments, Offshore Lifting Analysis, Riser Analysis, Marine Operation Assessments, Risk Analysis, etc.

2. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in the future?

The speed of engineering needs to increase! The biggest challenge in engineering is either remaining at the “status quo” OR getting caught in too complicated, too complex digitalization initiatives. There are many low-hanging fruits in the realm of engineering which can be reaped quickly and efficiently already. We hope to let many companies reap those benefits very shortly.

3. How is Entail working to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050?

With our tailor-tool, we are aiming at creating a design optimization and design space exploration tool which strives to find the optimum solution for physical designs. Ocean renewables is a clear benefactor of such a tool; empowering detailed calculations, more design iterations and in turn cheaper and better products with less environmental footprint. I am sure we will see a dramatic increase in the use of AI and machine learning in the creation/optimization of ground-breaking designs. At the same time, it is important to still have humans/engineers in the loop to take advantage of their fantasy and inspiration. As such, I hope that the tailor system will contribute to creating more and improved renewable designs.

4. What keeps you awake at night with regards to the energy transition?

Having two small kids at home I typically fall asleep quite quickly. However, I often find myself daydreaming about energy storage (and the need to have high density, mobile energy storage) and the need to create clean energy sources which are not time/weather dependent.

I might be naïve, but I would like to see the use of nuclear power and in a utopian world even fusion power.

I also love large floating structures so I really would like to see Offshore Thermal Energy Conversion succeed. It is based on a heat engine exploiting the differences in water temperature at depth and at the surface. The thermal efficiency is quite low so you would need massive structures (and reverse snorkels which go down to 1000m water depth), but the energy delivery is 24/7 and has no known adverse side effects.

5. What do you think will be the most valuable thing about being a member of Energy Valley?

The network and some cross-functional/industry input.

For example, our newest board member came to the company through a direct referral from some of the staff from Energy Valley.
And I really enjoy the sessions where space-related topics are introduced.

6. Is there any book that has inspired you in the way you lead?

There are three books that I actively reference several times a year:

“Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story” by Randy Olsen describes science’s need to spice up their storytelling skills to engage with a broader audience and to keep that audience interested.

“Start with Why” Simon Sinek: It’s not about what or how you do it, it’s about why you do it.

“Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond” Gene Kranz. Did you know the average age of the people responsible for the flight control of the Saturn V/Apollo missions was 28?

7. Which Energy Valleymember do you want to pass the baton on to? 

Nexans Norway As will be vital for delivering cables for the net-zero scenario.

Thank you, Stefan!