1st December 2021
- OWGP launches latest Development Grant funding call
- £3.5m available to UK offshore wind supply chain to improve competitiveness, increase capability and accelerate growth
- Winners of the May funding competition announced
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) – the go-to enabler to develop the UK offshore wind supply chain – has released its latest Development Grant funding call, with £3.5 million available for UK businesses looking to accelerate their growth in the offshore wind supply chain.
The grants can be used as capital or operational expenditure in projects that will unlock significant growth potential in UK content, jobs and export opportunities within the offshore wind sector.
Grants of up to £1 million are available, to cover up to 50% of the total project budget. Development grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with successful proposals demonstrating a long-term business plan and a clear ambition for growth in the sector.
OWGP made the announcement as it exhibits at key industry event, Offshore Wind North East (OWNE). OWGP Programme Director, Andrew Macdonald commented:
“Today’s announcement of this latest pot of funding from OWGP is a huge opportunity for UK businesses to achieve a step change in growth within the UK’s offshore wind market and beyond. To date, OWGP has invested more than £6 million into offshore wind supply chain projects which is already resulting in significant contract wins and trade for some companies in our previous funding cohorts.
We continue to seek ambitious, high growth companies that are either already active in offshore wind or looking to transition from other sectors.”
Today, OWGP is also unveiling the seven companies successful in securing a portion of the £3.5 million funding pot released in May 2021:
JET Engineering Systems Solutions, Sulmara Subsea, Pict Offshore, Anakata Wind Power Resources, DFS Composites, James Walker & Company and Granada Material Handling have all been awarded OWGP Development Grants to support offshore wind supply chain projects totalling over £6 million. The successful projects have a key focus on improving capability, increasing competitiveness, and driving forward business growth within the offshore wind sector.
Huw Griffiths, CEO of Anakata Wind Power Resources commented, “Anakata are delighted to have been awarded funding from OWGP for the development of our 3D SuperAero Tip Booster for offshore wind turbine blades – an innovation that will improve revenues through additional energy capture as well as significantly reduce costs by tackling leading edge erosion and reducing fatigue loads on the blades. The support from OWGP will accelerate product development and deliver a market-ready solution to advance the performance of existing blades and new blade designs.”
OWGP plays a key role in delivery of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal and is funded by members of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), with a budget of £100m over ten years. The programme, delivered by ORE Catapult, supports the growth of UK businesses looking to capitalise on the huge opportunities offered by the global offshore wind sector.
97 UK companies have already benefited from OWGP’s support since the organisation’s inception in 2019. OWGP provides a range of grant funding and business transformation programmes to support companies at different stages of their journey within offshore wind, helping them increase impact, productivity and growth.
Over 900 companies have now registered an interest on the OWGP website, where further information on the Development Grants can be found. For more information and to apply, visit the OWGP website: https://owgp.org.uk/about/grant-funding/
More information will also be provided at a briefing webinar on Wednesday 15th of December 2021, where attendees will learn more about the competition and how to apply. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owgp-development-grants-briefing-webinar-tickets-217954587037
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Fiona Murray, Senior Communication Advisor, Aspect Reputation Management
fiona.murray@aspectreputation.com // +44 (0)7463 238 722
Notes to editors:
About the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) is a long-term business transformation programme that has been established as part of the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal. It promotes closer collaboration across the supply chain, implements structured productivity improvement programmes and facilitates shared growth opportunities between developers and the supply chain.
Over the next ten years, delivery is focused on direct support to supply chain companies through a combination of strategic capability assessments, advisory services and grant funding. The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is managing the delivery of OWGP with support from specialist delivery partners.
About the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
ORE Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK Government and is part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries. It is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy.
Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities and engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector and delivers applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.
Active throughout the UK, ORE Catapult has operations in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, Hull, the South West and Wales.
About the Offshore Wind Industry Council
A senior Government and industry forum, OWIC was established in 2013 to drive the development of the world-leading offshore wind sector in the UK.
More detail on May 2021 funding call winners
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To develop a first-of-its-kind wireless sensor network using a floating buoy array to enable data driven decisions and operational efficiencies in the installation and commissioning phases of offshore windfarms.
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To drive adoption of Uncrewed Surface Vessels in subsea services in the offshore renewables sector.
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To develop a new, high-tech lifting product that addresses key financial and operational objectives for new offshore windfarms through the transfer of both personnel and cargo in higher sea states.
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To develop and deliver a market-ready super aero tip solution to advance the blade performance of offshore wind turbines.
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To develop a mould actuation system to manufacture blades for offshore wind turbines.
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To purchase manufacturing equipment that will scale up production and improve cost, speed and quality for customers in their core product line of seal components for wind turbines.
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To develop the next generation of davit crane for the offshore wind market. |