Seven offshore wind firms secure million pound innovation grants

Seven United Kingdom companies operating within the offshore wind supply chain have been awarded a total of one million pounds in funding support. The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership selected the recipients for their potential to resolve significant technical and commercial challenges facing the sector. The successful firms are Acuity Robotics, Akselos, Crondall Energy, Fathom, Quoceant, Sperra Seaworks and T12 Engineering.

The grants will enable these businesses, which are based across Scotland and both northern and southern England, to accelerate the commercial deployment of their solutions. This support is intended to enhance the competitiveness of the UK supply chain by helping firms move innovative ideas towards market readiness. The funding specifically targets innovation in industrial foundations and substructures, as well as substations and electrical design. These two areas were identified in the Industrial Growth Plan as having substantial potential to expand domestic capability and secure future market opportunities.

The selection process involved reviewing 73 applications submitted in June, which represented a combined value of approximately 300 million pounds. The programme is backed by industry champions Equinor and SSE, and it supports the long-term strategy for supply chain growth. Tom Speedie, the project manager for the partnership, stated that the awards demonstrate the depth of ingenuity within the industry. He noted that supporting these businesses would create skilled jobs, attract investment and deliver economic benefits to local communities. Tom Nightingale, Equinor’s local supply chain manager for power in the UK, added that innovation in manufacturing and system integration is essential as projects move into deeper waters and increase in scale.