The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and the University of Hull are collaborating on a £2m (€2.25m) project to provide an offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) centre of excellence in the Humber region.
The five-year partnership will see the duo offer a series of research and innovation projects to improve the way that offshore wind farms are operated and maintained.
The centre will be based at the University of Hull, with its first task to engage with industry and the supply chain to develop a series of feasibility studies and define a roadmap for O&M R&D.
ORE Catapult operational performance director Chris Hill said: “Operations and maintenance activities make up almost a quarter of the lifetime costs of an offshore wind farm, and provide a huge opportunity for UK companies to supply their products and services.
“The east coast, and particularly the Humber Estuary, has extensive experience of servicing offshore wind farms and that experience is invaluable as we look to build expertise and a local supply chain, establishing the region as a real centre of excellence that can service UK offshore wind farms as well as exporting to the fast-growing international market.”
University of Hull pro-vice chancellor for research and enterprise David Richards said: “Research and innovation in operations and maintenance are essential to maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind and this new centre of excellence will be key to establishing an anchor for the industry as a whole.”
Image: ORE Catapult
Hull hosts Catapult O&M centre
Partnership with university aims to improve operations and maintenance
By EBS