Nine UK companies have won places on the award-winning national Launch Academy technology acceleration programme designed to help innovative companies achieve success in the offshore wind industry.
Launch Academy, created and delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, delivers “wraparound support” including targeted technology development, business growth and professional services expertise to SMEs (small to medium enterprises) targeting success in the offshore wind sector.
The nine “trailblazers” include Reflex Marine, which is developing a solution to “unlock the commercial potential” of floating offshore wind through scalable, efficient, and low-impact anchoring technology.
Others include Heavy Lift Project, in Edinburgh, and Zero USV, in Plymouth.
The companies chosen for this latest national nine-month programme gathered for the first time in Blyth, Northumberland on 30 April to meet with the Launch Academy’s extended team which includes industry advisers and developer partners BP, EDF Renewables UK and Ireland and ScottishPower Renewables.
The new cohort proposed solutions to challenges encountered within the offshore wind sector ranging from floating wind installation technologies, extension of wind farm operational life, and supply chain decarbonisation.
Since 2020, through both national and regional programmes across the United Kingdom, Launch Academy has supported 57 companies that have gone on to collectively raise £26.7m in private investment, £8.4m in grant funding and had 150 patents filed.
Stephen Wyatt, Director – Strategy and Emerging Technology at ORE Catapult, said: “We have been impressed by the wealth of creativity, ambition and expertise demonstrated by the companies selected for this fifth national Launch Academy programme.
“Further strengthening the UK’s offshore supply chain will be core to achieving a smooth transition towards our net zero targets and this presents an unrivalled opportunity for UK businesses with the appropriate skills and drive to succeed. Launch Academy has been designed to equip those same companies with the requisite tools and support to thrive in the offshore renewable energy sector in the UK and internationally.”
Shiu Hui, New Technology and Innovation Manager, EDF Renewables UK and Ireland said: “We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the new cohort of companies selected for the Launch Academy programme.
“We are looking forward to working alongside these innovative companies and sharing our technical knowledge in the offshore wind sector.”
Teresa Enriquez, Offshore Innovation Manager at ScottishPower Renewables, said: “Continuing to grow and develop our domestic supply chain to support the offshore wind industry is a must for our sector and innovative SMEs – like the latest launch Academy cohort – are right at the heart of that.
“The Launch Academy is a win-win programme, providing companies with tailored support to help them thrive in this sector – especially those transitioning from other industries – while developing innovative solutions that address the real-life challenges being faced by developers like us on a daily basis.
“It’s great to be part of such a positive programme.”