The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is highlighting three new innovation opportunities for UK companies, calling for new technologies that can service the offshore renewables industry.
The technology innovation and research centre is asking innovators to come forward with solutions addressing autonomous subsea and subsurface inspection techniques and improved condition monitoring systems for offshore wind farms.
Successful respondents could benefit from a £19-million InnovateUK funding call for emerging and enabling technologies, designed to help UK businesses broaden their innovation activities, disrupt existing markets and find new revenue sources. They will also have access to the Catapult’s engineering and testing expertise, and support to commercialise their technologies and access new markets.
“Innovation is key to the UK Government’s Industrial and Clean Growth Strategies and will be an important tenet of the offshore wind sector deal currently being developed by industry and Government,” said Andrew Macdonald , senior innovation manager for ORE Catapult.
“The Emerging and Enabling Technologies funding from Innovate UK is well suited to the offshore renewables sector. There is a rapidly growing demand for innovation in sensors, robotics, satellite applications and data analytics in the sector to help reduce the cost of energy.
“Our Innovation Challenges identify specific industry needs that are within the scope of the InnovateUK funding call. Having a clear target for technology development will enable UK companies to take an early lead in the global renewables revolution, stealing a march on their competitors.
“Successful responses to these challenges will improve the installation, operations and maintenance of offshore renewable technology, driving down the overall cost at the same time as driving growth for UK companies. Our role at the Catapult is to help companies diversify into renewables, helping them to target technology development and carry out testing that will reduce the risks inherent in commercialisation.”