The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) has published a report on how offshore wind developers can use innovation projects to help grow Scotland’s supply chain.
Developed in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the SOWEC Innovation Guide highlights the “cutting-edge innovation” happening right across Scotland’s offshore wind industry, including undersea cabling surveying, drone turbine inspections and subsea battery storage.
Launched to coincide with Scottish Renewables’ Offshore Wind Conference 2025, the Innovation Guide highlights a number of best practice projects being delivered by developers and in academia that have shown positive results in providing innovation for the industry.
Aerospace manufacturer, Airspection, has developed a specialist drone specifically designed to carry out wind turbine surveys from the safety of shore.
The drone is flown out to offshore wind sites where its specialist “beyond line of sight” technology can conduct detailed surveys of the installed turbines.
With trials taking place in 2025, Airspection’s new technology has the potential to improve turbine surveillance without the requirement for onsite inspection.
Inverkeithing-based Pict Offshore is another company that is already being used by developers to improve safety standards on wind turbines.
Its “get up safe” system uses a specialist hoist lift to carry crew from vessels to the main access platform on an offshore wind turbine.
Each high-tech system is assembled and fabricated with parts sourced from local suppliers in Fife.
The safety system is operational at Orsted’s Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm, along with other Orsted wind farms in America.
Andrew Macdonald, director of development and operations at ORE Catapult, and chair of the SOWEC Innovation subgroup, said: “Scotland has a proud history of driving innovation within the energy sector, and with the offshore wind supply chain at a crucial stage of its development, we need to ensure we are maximising opportunities for Scottish companies and academics to stay ahead of the curve.
“The wealth of knowledge from members of the SOWEC Innovation subgroup is the foundation for this guide which showcases the breadth of activity across Scotland and the importance of having a joined up approach to supporting innovations from concept to commercialisation.”