The Supergen ORE Impact Hub, led by the University of Plymouth, has been received new funds to accelerate the impact of current and future offshore renewable energy devices and systems.
The Impact Hub has been awarded £7.5m by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.
The investment forms part of a £53m investment by UK Research and Innovation designed to boost knowledge, innovation and new technologies that will decarbonise the energy sector.
The Impact Hub will build on work carried out by the existing Supergen ORE Hub, created in July 2018 to champion and maintain the UK’s wave, tidal and offshore wind expertise.
It will be led by Professor Deborah Greaves, director of the Centre of Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy at the University of Plymouth, and brings together a network of academic, industrial and policy stakeholders.
Professor Greaves said: “This significant investment highlights the important role a thriving offshore renewable sector needs to play as part of the UK’s clean energy mix.
“And it could not have come at a more critical time, with a predicted growth of floating offshore wind technology in the Celtic Sea and Scotland among many imminent innovations.
“Since 2018, the Supergen ORE Hub has been instrumental in uniting researchers, industry and policy makers behind the common goal of creating a sustainable and secure ORE sector.
“That sort of continued collaboration will be essential if we are to ensure our innovation leads to positive and lasting environmental, economic and social impact.”
The Supergen ORE Impact Hub aims to utilise existing and planned research outcomes to accelerate the technology development, collaboration and industry uptake for commercial ORE developments.
Through its Flexible Fund, it plans to invest around £2.8m in new and emerging research across the UK, in addition to creating additional opportunities for early career researchers.
It will also build on previous work to enhance diversity across the ORE sector, making a future career in the industry accessible to all.