EU hands €14.3 million to USV developer

Reach Subsea will scale up its Reach Remote project, which focuses on developing advanced remove unmanned surface vessels ‘for efficient and sustainable operations in ocean-based industries’.

The EU Innovation Fund “is one of the world’s largest funding mechanisms for advancing zero-emission and innovative technologies,” says Reach Subsea. “It aims to bring decarbonisation solutions to the market, supporting the transition to climate neutrality while enhancing competitiveness.”

In October, Reach Subsea announced a partnership with TotalEnergies in qualifying a pilot programme of the Reach Remote USV, and in June it agreed a similar move with Equinor to look at survey, ROV intervention and monitoring-related work.

The EU’s Innovation Fund recently gave €15 million to two tidal stream projects in France.

It also recently awarded almost €500 million to the Norwegian Hyway Cluster, which comprises Hystar, Evoy, Inovyn, CRUDA, Reach Subsea, Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, Altera Infrastructure, and Flex Fuels.

These companies cover a range of sectors, including carbon capture, maritime transport, renewable fuels and the production of components for hydrogen production.

“This is an important step in Norway’s green transition,” said Minister of Energy Terje Aasland. “Together with Enova’s support schemes, this funding will help develop solutions that lead to significant emission reductions, in line with both Norway’s and the EU’s climate goals for 2050.”