Seven companies, including four based in Scotland, receive backing to advance next-generation technologies crucial for energy security and economic growth
Seven UK businesses, four of which are situated in Scotland, have secured a collective £1 million through an Innovation Funding programme designed to accelerate next-generation offshore wind technologies. The funding, provided by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), aims to strengthen the UK’s offshore wind supply chain by supporting businesses in scaling up promising technologies.
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, established in 2019 under the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal, functions as a long-term business transformation programme. It is funded by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and focuses on enhancing the competitiveness and capabilities of UK supply chain companies through direct funding and expert guidance.
The successful projects, led by Acuity Robotics, Akselos, Crondall Energy, Fathom, Quoceant, Sperra Seaworks, and T12 Engineering, were selected based on their commercial potential and their ability to address key technical and market challenges within the sector. The investment is intended to facilitate product development, advance towards commercial deployment, and improve the companies’ competitive standing in offshore wind. These businesses are located across Scotland, North England, and South England, reflecting a broad range of engineering expertise within the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.
This initiative is a component of OWGP’s strategy to support UK supply chain growth by investing in near-to-market technologies that demonstrate strong commercial prospects. The programme aligns with the Industrial Growth Plan, a roadmap developed by the Offshore Wind Industry Council, RenewableUK, The Crown Estate, and Crown Estate Scotland. The plan’s objectives include expanding the supply chain, accelerating project delivery, and reinforcing the UK’s position in the global offshore wind market.
The Industrial Growth Plan, published in April 2024, identifies key technology areas where targeted support could generate 10,000 new supply chain jobs annually and contribute an additional £25 billion to the UK economy by 2035, provided offshore wind deployment accelerates to 5-6 gigawatts per year.
The UK has set a target to achieve 50 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, including 5 gigawatts from floating offshore wind technology, as outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy in April 2022. The nation currently has over 13.9 gigawatts of fully commissioned offshore wind capacity. The wider UK offshore wind market is projected to expand significantly, with one analysis forecasting its size to reach USD 38.7 billion by 2034.
The funding competition received backing from industry champions Equinor and SSE, reflecting both immediate industry needs and long-term priorities for the sector. Equinor is involved in several UK offshore wind projects, including the operational Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon wind farms, the Hywind Scotland pilot park – the world’s first floating wind farm – and the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which is under construction and set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Speaking on the awards, Tom Speedie, Project Manager at the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, stated: “These awards reflect OWGP’s commitment to backing the technologies and businesses that can strengthen the UK’s offshore wind supply chain for the long term. The quality and ambition of the applications we received demonstrate the depth of ingenuity across the supply chain – now it’s time to bring those innovative ideas to life. We’re excited to support these companies as they take their next steps towards commercialisation. As these businesses grow, so too does the opportunity to create skilled jobs, attract investment and deliver economic benefits in the communities where they are based.”
In Case You Missed it:
Tom Nightingale, Local Supply Chain Manager (UK), Power at Equinor, commented: “This funding targets areas that will be critical to delivering the next generation of offshore wind projects. We were pleased to provide industry insight to help ensure the competition reflects market needs and supports UK companies with strong commercial potential. As projects increase in scale and move into deeper waters, innovation in manufacturing, structural design, power transmission and system integration will be essential. Supporting these technologies will help improve efficiency, strengthen supply chain resilience and enable the UK to compete in global offshore wind markets.”
James Lightfoot, Senior Innovation Manager, SSE, remarked: “The UK has a strong opportunity to develop small and medium-sized enterprises and their technologies to support the delivery of future offshore wind projects, creating jobs, strengthening UK supply chains and unlocking long-term economic value for the country. This funding will help UK-based companies test and commercialise innovative solutions, bringing new technologies closer to deployment in support of secure, homegrown energy. For developers, proven technology reduces risk and increases confidence in project delivery. That can help drive greater efficiency, support cost reduction and expand the range of competitive UK supply chain options available to the sector. We look forward to seeing these companies progress their technologies and contribute to the continued growth of the UK’s offshore wind industry.”
The awarded companies will now proceed with the next phase of their projects, collaborating with OWGP to develop their technologies, gather performance evidence, and prepare for future commercialisation opportunities. For example, Quoceant, an Edinburgh-based engineering consultancy, specialises in offshore renewables and provides design and consultancy for offshore wind, including a modular quick connection system for floating offshore wind. Sperra Seaworks is advancing a Floating Construction Station concept, in partnership with Bardex Energy UK, to enhance nearshore manufacturing and assembly capacity for floating offshore wind, a solution that could reduce reliance on extensive port upgrades. Akselos develops advanced simulation digital twin technology, providing real-time digital replicas to optimise the design and operation of offshore wind turbines. Crondall Energy, an independent consultancy, is developing SAFEMOOR, a mooring integrity management system aimed at reducing the risk of mooring line failure and operational expenditure for floating offshore wind. T12 Engineering has secured funding for its Floating Mooring System, designed to reduce maintenance costs for floating offshore wind turbines by enabling more efficient servicing.
