The North East England’s Offshore Wind Cluster’s Energi Coast has launched an offshore wind innovation group to support take up of new technology by the industry.
The innovation group has been set up to “progress major innovation opportunities” for the region’s offshore wind industry in areas such as operations and maintenance and energy storage.
The innovation group is led by Simon Hogg, Orsted professor in renewable energy and head of Durham University’s engineering department.
The group is made up of key representatives from the offshore wind sector, regional universities, local enterprise partnerships and industry.
Representatives from Dogger Bank A and B developers Equinor and SSE Renewables, as well as Sofia developer, RWE Renewables, will also form part of the initiative.
The Offshore Renewables Catapult (ORE) Catapult is also a member.
The group also forms part of the Energi Coast cluster’s commitment to support the UK Government’s Offshore Wind Sector Deal.
Hogg said: “The Offshore Wind Sector Deal is a fantastic opportunity for North East England.
“Durham University is delighted to lead the Innovation Group for Energi Coast, which will bring together research and development experts from academia, industry and the local authorities within our region.
“The group will help to identify and develop opportunities to deliver innovation that will maximise the economic benefit from offshore wind to north-east England over the next decade and beyond 2030.”
ORE Catapult test facilities director Tony Quinn said: “The north-east has a critical role to play in UK offshore wind, and this group will fuse together our world-leading research, industrial and supply chain expertise to help drive the innovation required to lower the cost of energy, boost the region’s competitiveness and continue to attract inward investment.”
The innovation group will launch with a virtual event to introduce its objectives and future plans.
The event will also showcase examples of innovation from universities across the region which are helping to grow the offshore wind sector and make it increasingly efficient and cost-effective.