Global Underwater Hub and Scottish Enterprise have today formed a partnership to maximise supply chain opportunities in floating offshore wind.
GUH and SE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the opening day of Subsea Expo 2025.
They will work together to establish a subsea supply chain ecosystem as a global “centre of excellence” for floating offshore wind.
The aim of the MoU is to maximise the economic value from the floating offshore wind sector’s projected rapid global growth.
It will also support the transition of the UK’s oil and gas underwater sector supply chain into floating offshore wind.
The subsea supply chain ecosystem will provide a collaborative environment in which to drive capability and capacity in Scottish subsea companies so they can capitalise on the opportunities in floating offshore wind – a market estimated to be worth £1trillion globally and £270bn domestically.
Working together, GUH and SE will harness the innovation and economic opportunities that are emerging from floating offshore wind.
They will identify and bring together the companies, organisations, facilities, resources and expertise that can support the growth of the floating offshore wind industry in the UK and internationally.
Gaps in the UK’s underwater supply chain capability, infrastructure, resources and expertise, relative to the needs of the floating offshore wind market, will be identified, and targeted support will be provided to fill those gaps.
Focus areas include subsea cable systems, moorings and anchoring as well as underwater operations and maintenance.
GUH chief executive Neil Gordon (pictured signing the MoU) said: “The growth of floating offshore wind brings massive opportunities for our underwater supply chain.
“ScotWind alone represents £28bn in development, manufacturing, and installation opportunities to bring 30GW of generating capacity online over the next decade and a further £33bn from operations and maintenance over the full life of a wind farm.
“With extensive experience, skills and technology, honed over five decades in offshore energy, our supply chain is perfectly positioned to meet the challenges and complexity of floating offshore wind.
“The compelling combination of GUH’s industry specific insight, knowledge and membership with Scottish Enterprise’s provision of resources and support for supply chain development, market access and skills training will ensure that the right support is targeted at the right companies, and the right time, to make a tangible impact on our ability to capitalise on the massive opportunities in floating offshore wind globally.”
Scottish Enterprise’s director for energy transition Suzanne Sosna (also pictured) said: “Our vision is for Scotland to be viewed around the world as a centre of excellence for offshore wind, with supply chains that are world-leading in terms of value, competitiveness, and service.
“Collaborative working is essential to the future success of the sector. This MoU ensures we will operate hand-in-hand with Global Underwater Hub to really maximise opportunities for supply chain companies, but also to get us to that place where the rest of the world looks to Scotland for the supply chain that will power the energy sector of the future.”
Subsea Expo is GUH’s flagship three-day conference and exhibition, which attracts 6,000 visitors and showcases the latest in subsea innovation and technology.