The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is to expand its presence in the Humber in north-east England.
Plans include opening a new base of operations in Grimsby and the creation of 50 to 70 jobs in the region in the next decade.
With a portfolio of 70 O&M projects, ORE Catapult said it is “aligning its activities with regional and national priorities, supporting the emerging Humber Offshore Wind Cluster and ensuring regional activities have a UK-wide impact”.
Ben George, former director of Aura, has been appointed as ORE Catapult’s general manager in the Humber.
ORE Catapult operational performance director Chris Hill said: “The Humber, with its energy heritage, location, and extensive experience of servicing offshore wind farms, has quickly established itself as the UK’s centre of excellence in operating and maintaining the existing UK offshore wind fleet.”
The Humber’s O&M cluster includes Orsted’s expanding East Coast Hub, Innogy’s planned base for Triton Knoll, and suppliers including CWind, James Fisher and Rix Sea Shuttles, and is supported by Aura and the University of Hull.
Hill added, “Therefore, it makes it the ideal location from which the Catapult can continue, and expand, its technology innovation and research activities, working with industry and academia to ensure the UK remains a world-leader in the global offshore wind sector.”
ORE Catapult is a member of Aura, a regional partnership of industry and academia focused on driving forward the growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector.
Aura collaborates with the University of Hull as part of the Operations & Maintenance Centre of Excellence (OMCE).
O&M activities make up almost a quarter of the lifetime costs of an offshore wind project, but with 75% O&M content coming from the UK supply chain, the UK has a competitive advantage in servicing the offshore fleet, according to ORE Catapult.