The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, in partnership with the National Shipbuilding Office and The Crown Estate, have today announced the appointment of leading shipbuilder APCL Cammell Laird to carry out a detailed analysis of the future market opportunity for UK built ships in offshore wind.
With over 850GW of offshore wind capacity expected to be installed globally by 2050, there is a need for major growth in the production of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) to support this expansion. SOVs are designed to provide efficient servicing and maintenance of offshore wind farms by, in effect, becoming mobile offshore operations & maintenance bases. They are a crucial part of supporting the growth of offshore wind.
Analysis carried out by ORE Catapult shows that hundreds of these ships are likely to be in operation around the world in the years to come, with an associated global market of nearly £35bn between now and 2050.
The UK has a proud shipbuilding heritage, but pathways must be found for how the country can transfer this to industries that are set to play crucial roles in the future Net Zero economy, like offshore wind. This work will help to develop knowledge of how the UK can provide vessel manufacturing to support offshore wind, delivering jobs and economic investment to communities around the country.
Lauren Hadnum, Clean Maritime Manager at ORE Catapult, said: “We know that for the UK to tap into the full potential offered by offshore wind, we’re going to need to dramatically increase the number of vessels that are able to maintain the turbines of the future. It’s vital, therefore, that we work to ensure as many of those vessels as possible can be manufactured in British shipyards.
“This work will help us to better understand what needs done to make this a reality, and outline ways in which industry and government can work together to develop a successful and joined up approach to UK shipbuilding for offshore wind.”
Linton Roberts, APCL Group Chief Technology Officer, said: “APCL Cammell Laird is delighted to have been selected to lead the UK SOV Manufacturing Business Case Development study. This project represents a significant step forward in strengthening the UK’s position in offshore renewable vessel manufacturing.
“As one of the UK’s largest and most established shipbuilders, we are committed to delivering a robust, evidence-based business case that will shape the future of sustainable shipbuilding and reinforce the UK’s role in the global offshore wind supply chain.
“We look forward to working closely with ORE Catapult, The Crown Estate, and the National Shipbuilding Office to drive this vital initiative forward.”
Rod Paterson, Chief Executive Officer of the National Shipbuilding Office, said: “I am delighted that the National Shipbuilding Office has worked in partnership with ORE Catapult and The Crown Estate to launch this important study into the future market opportunity for UK built ships in the offshore wind industry. Following a fantastic response, I am really pleased that APCL Cammell Laird has been appointed to lead this work. There is significant predicted domestic and global demand for Service Operation and Crew Transfer vessels over the coming decades which I believe the UK shipbuilding sector is well placed to compete for and win market share.”
Will Apps, Offshore Wind Strategy Director at The Crown Estate, said: “The UK is one of the world’s leading offshore wind energy producers, second only to China, and will rapidly increase the scale of offshore deployment to deliver the Government’s 2030 clean power targets. Developing the domestic supply chain will be an essential factor in our continued success and we expect a significant uplift in demand for SOVs in the coming years, with the potential to create jobs and economic growth within communities around the UK.
“One particularly interesting output from the study will be the feasibility assessment of low or no emission SOVs operating in the UK, acknowledging the importance of decarbonising the offshore wind sector itself and of the operation and maintenance of windfarms.”
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About the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult
ORE Catapult is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy, established in 2013 by the UK Government as part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries.
Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world leading test and demonstration facilities, engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector, delivering applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost, and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.
ORE Catapult operates in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, the Humber, the East of England, the South West, and Wales.
About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate has a diverse £16bn portfolio that includes urban centres and development opportunities; one of the largest rural holdings in the country; Regent Street and St James’s in London’s West End; and Windsor Great Park. We also manage the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, playing a major role in the UK’s world leading offshore wind sector.
We are a unique business established by an Act of Parliament, tasked with growing the value of the portfolio for the nation and returning all of our net profit to HM Treasury for the benefit of public spending. This has totalled £4bn over the last ten years.
Through our activities and investments, The Crown Estate creates environmental, social and financial value both for now and into the long term. This includes:
- Playing a significant role in unlocking renewable energy for millions of homes through sectors such as offshore wind and creating opportunities for new technologies like CCUS and hydrogen to deliver the UK’s energy security transition, resulting in thousands of jobs for communities across the UK
- Supporting the sustainable transformation of land use in the UK through diversified, regenerative agricultural and environmental best practice alongside a thriving natural world
- Becoming recognised as a centre of excellence for environmental and ecological best practice across the Windsor Estate
- Identifying and creating opportunities for thriving and resilient communities across the country to support regeneration, housing and innovation
- Ensuring London retains its global city status, by fostering a more vibrant, greener and inclusive destination for millions of visitors and businesses.
About The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO)
The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) drives transformative change to empower a globally successful, innovative and sustainable shipbuilding enterprise that works for all parts of the UK. The NSO oversees all of the Government’s interests in UK shipbuilding, supports growth in the sector, and works with industry to improve productivity and competitiveness.
