Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has begun an effort to maximise impact of pilot floating wind projects in the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing process.
With the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), ORE Catapult has launched the INTOG Innovation Network.
This new network will work under the existing Energy Transition Alliance between ORE Catapult and NZTC.
The INTOG leasing round, managed by Crown Estate Scotland, is designed both to use floating offshore wind to directly reduce emissions from oil and gas production (TOG), and to develop a series of agreements for commercial pilot scale (less than 100MW) innovation projects (IN).
The Innovation Network focuses purely on the innovation element of the INTOG leasing round, facilitating research, development, and engagement scopes for the five projects allocated exclusivity agreements.
The priorities of this work will include building collaborative relationships between projects and identifying common innovation and technology challenges and opportunities as well as sharing lessons learned to inform future projects as well as with the wider floating wind industry.
Opportunities to test and demonstrate technologies for the intended purposes of increasing technology readiness levels and de-risking technologies ready for deployment will also be explored.
ORE Catapult director of development & operations Andy Macdonald said: “This new network creates a unique forum to help support the industry leading innovations that these projects are designed to deliver.
“Coming ahead of the build out of the large scale ScotWind sites, these projects offer a fantastic opportunity for industry to learn more about how to overcome the challenges, and maximise the potential, of new floating wind technology.”
NZTC head of net zero technology Graeme Rogerson added: “Maximising the impact and value to industry of these innovation projects is crucial in realising the future ambitions for UK floating wind and the value to our supply chain and port infrastructure.
“We’re delighted to play such a pivotal role in driving this collaboration and shaping the future of offshore wind.”