Seven UK companies have secured a share of £1 million through the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership’s (OWGP) Innovation Funding programme to accelerate near-to-market technologies in foundations and substructures, and substations and electrical systems.
The funding targets innovation in two areas identified through the Industrial Growth Plan as having significant potential to grow UK capability and capture future offshore wind market opportunities: industrial foundations and substructures, and substations and electrical design.
The projects, led by Acuity Robotics, Akselos, Crondall Energy, Fathom, Quoceant, Sperra Seaworks, and T12 Engineering, were selected for their potential to address key technical and commercial challenges by accelerating near-to-market and market-ready solutions that will strengthen UK capability in offshore wind. The funding will help these companies fast-track their route to commercial deployment and improve competitiveness.
Based across Scotland and North and South England these companies reflect the breadth of innovation, engineering expertise, and industrial capability that exists within the offshore wind supply chain.
The Innovation Funding programme is a key part of delivering OWGP’s long-term strategy for UK supply chain growth. It is designed to support companies developing near-to-market technologies that address key industry challenges, helping strengthen UK capability and improve competitiveness across the global offshore wind supply chain.
Funding is targeted towards priority areas identified through the Industrial Growth Plan, helping accelerate innovative solutions with the potential to unlock future global market opportunities and position the UK as a world leader in offshore wind.
Industrial foundations and substructures represent one of the largest value opportunities in the offshore wind supply chain. As the size and depth of turbines increase, the UK has an opportunity to build on its existing expertise through industrialised production, automation, and innovative installation methods. This is identified in the Industrial Growth Plan as a potential £209 billion global market opportunity.
Future electrical systems also present a significant growth opportunity. The UK's established capability in electrical engineering and offshore systems provides a strong foundation for developing next-generation solutions for higher-capacity transmission, more complex offshore networks and future deployment.
Backed by Industry Champions, Equinor and SSE, this year’s Innovation Funding competition reflects both the immediate needs of industry and its long-term priorities.
Tom Speedie, Project Manager at the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, said: “These awards reflect OWGP's commitment to backing the technologies and businesses that can strengthen the UK's offshore wind supply chain for the long term. “The quality and ambition of the applications we received demonstrate the depth of ingenuity across the supply chain - now it’s time to bring those innovative ideas to life.
“We’re excited to support these companies as they take their next steps towards commercialisation. As these businesses grow, so too does the opportunity to create skilled jobs, attract investment and deliver economic benefits in the communities where they are based.”
Tom Nightingale, Local Supply Chain Manager (UK), Power at Equinor, said: “This funding targets areas that will be critical to delivering the next generation of offshore wind projects. We were pleased to provide industry insight to help ensure the competition reflects market needs and supports UK companies with strong commercial potential.
“As projects increase in scale and move into deeper waters, innovation in manufacturing, structural design, power transmission, and system integration will be essential. Supporting these technologies will help improve efficiency, strengthen supply chain resilience, and enable the UK to compete in global offshore wind markets.”
James Lightfoot, Senior Innovation Manager, SSE, said: “The UK has a strong opportunity to develop small and medium-sized enterprises and their technologies to support the delivery of future offshore wind projects, creating jobs, strengthening UK supply chains, and unlocking long-term economic value for the country. This funding will help UK-based companies test and commercialise innovative solutions, bringing new technologies closer to deployment in support of secure, homegrown energy.
“For developers, proven technology reduces risk and increases confidence in project delivery. That can help drive greater efficiency, support cost reduction and expand the range of competitive UK supply chain options available to the sector.
“We look forward to seeing these companies progress their technologies and contribute to the continued growth of the UK's offshore wind industry.”
The successful companies will now begin the next phase of their projects, working with OWGP to progress their technologies, generate evidence of performance and prepare them for future commercial opportunities.
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