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Providing a quick connection system for dynamic cables
Business profile
15 years of company history with a strong track record in offshore wind.
Positioned across the energy sector, including fixed and floating offshore wind
Initially, Apollo had a profile in fixed bottom offshore wind and was looking to transition into services for Floating Offshore Wind
Support recieved
Business Transformation
Grant Funding
Solutions for the offshore wind industry
Improved reliability and speed of connection and disconnection of offshore energy devices.
Reduced time and cost for installation, disconnection and maintenance.
Reduced LCOE.
A closer look at connection mechanisms
The connection and disconnection of the moorings and cables that anchor floating platforms to the seabed are a high-cost area in the Floating Offshore Wind market.
Required at mobilisation, demobilisation and during repairs, the cost – including the resulting interruption in power generation – is substantial.
The quick connection mechanisms of PALM QCS offer an efficient way for platform operators to reduce costs and improve reliability, without the need for specialised boats and handling equipment, hydraulics or motion correction. The PALM QCS provides a scalable, robust device which reduces the levelised cost of energy (LCOE).
Impact of the support
PALM QCS product attained technology readiness level 4 (TRL4).
Developed a clear strategy to progress to TRL6 and beyond.
Insight into the cost benefit of the PALM QCS and identification of target markets.
Before
With a 15-year history in delivering engineering solutions for fixed bottom Offshore Wind structures, Apollo was developing its service and product offering to cater for the growing Floating Offshore Wind market. Apollo’s own research suggested that quick-connect and release devices would be required for Floating Offshore Wind installations as a strategy for reducing the LCOE. Prior to OWGP’s support, Apollo had been developing an innovative new device, PALM QCS, to enable quick connection of mooring and electrical systems for floating wave energy developers.
During
Apollo secured funding via OWGP’s Cross-Sector Call 2020 to undertake a research and design project to adapt its PALM QCS product to work with an existing product on the market, Floating Power Plant’s (FPP) hybrid wind to wave converter. This was with a view to improving the costs and reliability of connection and disconnection in the Floating Offshore Wind sector. The findings were supported by engineering calculations and the project concluded with the delivery of a commercialisation report.
Later in 2022, Apollo applied for and received business transformation support through the WEST programme to help them commercialise their newly developed product, PALM and understand the key market opportunities and best positioning of this product.
After
As a result of the project, Apollo gained a deeper understanding of the PALM’s market potential, including a vision of the product’s scalability and cost benefit. Through the project, the PALM attained TRL4, a key stepping stone to its current status of TRL6. Building on the OWGP project, the PALM is now in full scale FEED for a Floating Offshore Wind farm application, with a pilot deployment targeted for 2026/7.
The work done through WEST gave Apollo a wider perspective of the industry allowing them to find gaps in the market where their products would prove commercially viable and helping them to develop a business plan to capitalise on these opportunities in a strategic way.
In 2024, Apollo secured an OWGP Innovation Grant to develop quick connect systems for array cables for floating OSW structures based on the current Apollo PALM QCS.
“We knew that we had a concept with strong potential for floating renewables. The OWGP project allowed us to demonstrate how it can reduce installation and operating costs in floating offshore wind, while identifying the technology drivers, market opportunity and route to technical readiness. With this sound basis we are excited to be developing the PALM QCS for Scotwind, INTOG and other forthcoming deployments in the UK.”
