The Scottish Government has released results of eight projects selected in a floating offshore wind innovation competition.
The Floating Wind Technology Acceleration Competition (FLW TAC) was designed and run by the Carbon Trust’s Floating Wind Joint Industry Project (Floating Wind JIP), an initiative conducted with 15 international offshore wind developers.
The winning projects include new methods of monitoring and reducing mooring line loads and a new modular lifting solution for offshore component exchange.
Each winning project received a share of the £1m fund along with industry guidance to undertake a range of activities, from desktop studies to offshore demonstration.
Over the past 12 months, the funding has enabled the innovators to accelerate the development of their designs and, in some cases, manufacture and test prototype products.
One technology is now a commercially available product, whilst others have secured additional funding for larger scale testing or are actively pursuing opportunities for commercial scale demonstration.
The competition was designed to find innovations with the potential to address four key industry challenge areas that need to be overcome to commercialise floating wind.
These priority areas are monitoring and inspection, mooring systems, heavy lift maintenance and tow to port maintenance.
The FLW TAC innovation projects have the potential to reduce the cost of building and operating these farms.
Once commercialised, the manufacturing of several of the technologies could be supported by Scotland’s supply chain.
This will help to increase local content of Scottish offshore wind projects and support local businesses to diversify into low carbon markets, in line with the recent recommendations of the Just Transition Commission.
Cabinet secretary for net zero and energy Michael Matheson said: “Scotland has some of the best wind resources in the world, which will support our transition to becoming a net-zero economy by 2045.
“Overcoming technological challenges to commercial scale deployment of the floating wind sector will be vital to ensure its continuing growth, which is why I am delighted that the Scottish Government could work alongside the Carbon Trust to support the Floating Wind Technology Acceleration Competition.
“The eight projects that have been developed over the past year demonstrate how technological innovation will support Scotland’s energy transition.
“I wish each project continued success and hope the competition inspires further innovative solutions to be developed to support our just transition to net zero.”