Eight UK businesses have been successful in securing a share of a £2 million Development Grant Competition from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP).
The Development Grants competition launched in May 2022 offering up to £500,000 to offshore wind supply chain companies for projects that will unlock significant growth potential in UK content, jobs and export opportunities.
Anil Sayhan, OWGP Programme Director, said: “Offshore wind provides exciting growth opportunities for UK supply chain companies within the domestic market and overseas. Since its inception, OWGP has supported over 200 projects across our business transformation and grant funding portfolio at an aggregate value exceeding £15 million. We look forward to working with these companies to bring game-changing solutions into the UK market and beyond.”
The eight winners showcase the scale of innovation and diversity in the UK supply chain. Projects included a focus on condition monitoring of turbine blades and inter-array electrical cables and biofouling prevention on turbine ladders. Other projects are exploring offshore floating wind mooring and anchoring solutions. In addition to supporting UK supply chain growth, these projects could unlock cost reduction and safer operations in offshore wind development and operations.
The OWGP is delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and funded by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC). It’s grant funding portfolio consists of 60 projects, each bringing tangible benefits to the UK offshore wind sector, creating jobs, and unlocking UK export opportunities. This number is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade as a pipeline of competitive funding rounds and business transformation initiatives are delivered, enabling significant UK supply chain growth to 2030 and beyond.
The next £2m Development Grant competition will launch in May 2023.
