Offshore innovation funding competition launched

The fund, which offers UK-based suppliers funding of between £25,000 and £250,000 per project, has been launched to boost innovation in Industrial Foundations and Substructures and Substations and Electrical Design.

The funding will go to near-to-market or market-ready ideas.

“Companies already active in offshore wind and those seeking to diversify into the sector are eligible to apply,” the offer says.

While ‘supported’ by Equinor and SSE Renewables, the programme is not funded by them, a spokeswoman said. Funding comes from the Offshore Wind Industry Council, which partners the government.

Equinor and SSE ‘have expressed an interest in the innovation themes of this competition and will have early insight into the technologies OWGP supports through its programme,” she said. “This is a way for us to help our beneficiaries build relationships with key developers who may be interested in their solutions.”

“Industrial opportunity in the UK offshore wind sector has never been greater,” said Tom Speedie, project manager at the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership. 

“The recent results of Allocation Round 7 have added 8.4GW to the pipeline, driving increased demand across the supply chain. As developers push ahead at pace, suppliers must be ready to capitalise on the opportunities ahead.

“Our Innovation Funding programme backs disruptive technologies that will ensure the UK can compete in the global marketplace and contribute to the UK’s long-term industrial success.”

The closing date to submit an application to the programme is Friday 20th March at 17:00. 

“Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis toward projects capable of delivering strong, measurable outcomes for the supply chain,” the OWGP says. 

Information on how to apply is here. 

In December, the OWGP awarded £2.4 million (€2.7 million) to nine supply chain xompanies under its Development Funding Programme. 

The following companies and projects were awarded:

• Airspection: Shore-launched drone inspections for offshore wind
• BPP Cables: Design, testing and validation of innovative water-blocking sheaths for dynamic cables
• Fennex: Accelerating AI-powered WindSafe
• HydroSurv Unmanned Survey: 3D Chirp uncrewed surface platform
• Innovair: Expanding robotic NDT for monopile and foundation inspections
• Kinewell Energy: Strategy, APIs, Visuals, Expansion (SAVE) project
• MJR Controls: Electric SOV offshore charging high-voltage system qualification
• SeaThor: ‘CableSpring’ technology for enhanced offshore subsea cable protection
• Slipform Engineering: Demonstration, R&D and training facility at Hunterston

Offshore wind is a major and growing sector for the UK.

It began in 2019, when the Offshore Wind Sector Deal was agreed, with the target of installing 30GW of offshore wind by 2030. This has now increased to 50GW by 2030.

“Whilst this is of course a welcomed ambition and creates greater opportunity for regional, UK and export benefit capture, it conversely presents a challenge in terms of supply chain capability and the availability of people, jobs and skills. Despite this challenge, the industry continues to increase its efforts to work successfully in these areas,” said the Offshore Energy Alliance.