The UK-U.S. Floating Offshore Wind Supply Chain Innovation Bilateral (FLOWB) supply chain program will see Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Innovation UK partner with the University of Maine, NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and others. Collaborate and collaborate with our U.S. partners. The companies will work together to help UK companies developing exportable technology partner with US floating wind platform developers to benefit from a funding pot of up to £1.5m.
ORE Catapult, NREL and the University of Maine have identified four emerging innovation challenges that UK businesses are ideally placed to solve. Up to five companies will be selected through a competitive process and each will receive a grant of between £300,000 and £500,000 and 18 months of bespoke technical support from ORE Catapult. Selected companies will work with U.S. partners to develop new innovative technologies or adapt existing technologies for use in test and demonstration projects.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for a UK company to partner with a US floating offshore wind platform developer, with technical and commercial gaps can be identified,” said Dr. Stephen Wyatt. Director of Strategy and Emerging Technologies at ORE Catapult. “A UK company will be able to support a major floating wind developer in the US, and both parties will benefit from shared learning in this expanding and dynamic offshore wind sector.”
Roger Townsend, innovation lead for energy at Innovate UK, said the potential for the US offshore wind market was high, with some ambitious targets being set at state and federal level, and that these targets could be met. He added that innovation and international cooperation are key to achieving this goal.
“We are pleased to support ORE Catapult in expanding our relationships in floating offshore wind research and development, a sector that plays an increasingly important role in enabling decarbonized energy systems,” said Townsend. “With their knowledge and experience, UK innovators and supply chain partners are well placed to play a key role in the development of the US offshore wind sector. It provides a significant opportunity to collaborate on research and development, leading to export opportunities for the UK.”
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