Operations and maintenance (O&M) offers the best opportunities for subsea companies to diversify into offshore wind, according to a new report from the National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI).
The report – ‘Subsea Technological Challenges in Offshore Wind’ – highlighted inspection, repair and maintenance as having strong potential for subsea companies.
It added that companies could break into the offshore wind market by offering individual services such as automated and cable scour inspection, condition and remote monitoring, increased turbine access and risk-based inspection.
Such services could be bundled over time to deliver a “full life-of-field” offering, the NSRI said.
Diverless solutions will be of growing interest as offshore wind developments move further from the coast into deeper waters, they added.
The report also highlights opportunities for operators, developers, academia and the wider industry to work together to break down barriers and bring about positive change.
NSRI project director Gordon Drummond said: “Offshore renewables is a growing market which presents exciting new business opportunities for the UK supply chain.
“While fossil fuels are expected to continue dominating the global energy supply mix, renewables are taking off at an incredible rate.
“There are some natural synergies between the sectors, which provide a real advantage for subsea companies looking to expand their presence in multiple energy markets.”
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