North-east England’s offshore wind supply chain cluster Energi Coast has named the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s Tony Quinn as its new chair.
Quinn, who has almost 40 years’ experience in the power generation industries, succeeds James Ritchie who has held the role since 2018.
Energi Coast is one of UK’s eight regional offshore wind supply chain clusters, which supports the Offshore Wind Sector Deal launched in 2019.
Originally founded in 2011 by energy sector business development organisation, NOF, Energi Coast, aims to strengthen the links between the supply chain and developers and contractors and ensures local projects such as Dogger bank Wind Farm and Sofia Offshore Wind Farm use as many regional suppliers as possible.
Quinn, who is test and validation director at ORE Catapult, is a “leading figure” in the UK offshore wind sector and will play an “instrumental role in the relationships between developers and contractors and north-east England’s extensive and experienced supply chain cluster”.
In the past decade Quinn has overseen the Catapult’s investment in the world’s largest wind turbine test facilities at the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland.
He has led ORE Catapult’s delivery of critical research, test and validation services for hundreds of UK SMEs, as well as major achievements, such as securing the test and validation of the world’s largest operational offshore wind turbine, GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade X.
This includes the successful certification of LM Wind Power’s 107m blade – the largest offshore wind turbine blade to have ever been tested and certified.
Quinn said: “I am very proud to become chair of Energi Coast, which champions a passionate, experienced, and highly collaborative cluster of supply chain companies.
“The cluster’s commitment to develop and apply innovative solutions to the industry is world-renowned and a reputation we continue to grow in our support of global offshore wind projects.
“I also want to pay tribute to James Ritchie who was instrumental in the expansion of Energi Coast following the establishment of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal and building the cluster’s close links with industry, academia, the public sector and government.”