Eight UK businesses have been successful in securing a share of a £2m development grant competition from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP).
The competition launched in May 2022 offers up to £500,000 to offshore wind supply chain companies for projects that will unlock significant growth potential in UK content, jobs and export opportunities.
OWGP programme director Anil Sayhan said: “Offshore wind provides exciting growth opportunities for UK supply chain companies within the domestic market and overseas.
“Since its inception, OWGP has supported over 200 projects across our business transformation and grant funding portfolio at an aggregate value exceeding £15m.
“We look forward to working with these companies to bring game-changing solutions into the UK market and beyond.”
Swift Anchors, which has been owned by Aquos Schottel Marine Technologies since October 2022, will use the OWGP grant to complete testing of its anchor technology in diverse and technically challenging rock seabed sites for floating offshore wind projects.
Swift Anchors will work with several subcontractors such as Morek and Mollart Cox and researchers from the University of Dundee to deliver the project.
The other developments include a focus on condition monitoring of turbine blades and inter-array electrical cables and biofouling prevention on turbine ladders.
Other projects are exploring offshore floating wind mooring and anchoring solutions. In addition to supporting UK supply chain growth, these schemes could unlock cost reduction and safer operations in offshore wind development and operations.
The OWGP is delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and funded by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC).
The next £2m Development Grant competition will launch in May 2023.