REM: More than GBP60mn boost for UK offshore floating wind

Eleven floating wind projects off the UK have been selected for a government investment of GBP31.6mn ($42.5mn). More than GBP30mn in cash will also come from private industry.

The announcement is important because the UK is so windy, and waters off the coastline are often too deep for fixed-bottom wind turbines. In fact, Scotland is the windiest country in Europe, though the selected projects are spread around the entire UK coastline. 

Additionally, the UK is slated to be the second-busiest country for offshore wind power by 2030 after China. It currently has more offshore wind than any other country globally.

The UK government said the investment would help “develop new technologies that will enable turbines to be located in the windiest parts around the UK’s coastline.”

It will “help accelerate renewable energy deployment that reduces UK exposure to volatility in global fossil fuel prices,” said a government press release. “With global gas prices at record highs, the UK is determined to strengthen energy security further by deploying home-grown renewable technologies to reduce our dependency on volatile fossil fuels,” the release said.

The tension between Russia and the Ukraine could also spike gas prices in W Europe.

The investment for floating wind is for a variety of technologies. It will boost research that will “help maintain UK’s position as a world leader in offshore wind, generating green energy investment in all parts of the UK and levelling up across the country,” the press release continued.

UK Energy Minister Greg Hands said: “By stimulating development now through the Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Programme, the costs of building and locating floating turbines in deep-water areas will come down faster, growing the UK supply chain and supporting the target in the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan of delivering 1 GW of energy through floating offshore wind by 2030.”

The funding recipients, which are all British, include: JDR Cables (Hartlepool) and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (Blyth); Buoyant Production Technologies (Farnham) and the University of Southampton; AWC Technology (Aberdeen); Reflex Marine (Aberdeen), the University of Exeter, Bridon Bekaert Ropes Group (Doncaster) and Wood Thilsted Partners (Godalming); London Marine Consultants and the University of Plymouth; and Copenhagen Offshore Partners (Edinburgh), SSE Renewables (Belfast), Maersk Supply Service Subsea (London) and Bridon Bekaert Ropes Group (Doncaster).

They also include: Marine Power Systems (Swansea); Cerulean Winds (Guildford); SenseWind (Cambridge), Geodis FF (Feltham), Xodus Group (Aberdeen) and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (Blyth); Aker Solutions (London); and Trivane Ltd (Newquay), London Marine Consultants, Keynvormorlift (Newquay) and Ledwood (Pembroke Dock).