The commercial returns possible in offshore renewables are now excellent with the introduction of additional Renewable Obligation Certificates for offshore wind (1.5 ROCs) and wind and tidal energy (2 ROCs). With global demand for wind turbines also outstripping supply, never has the opportunity for the industry been so real, either through technology innovation or through building additional supply chain capacity.

We are particularly keen to support businesses, universities, RTOs and individuals already developing innovation in this space.

If you’re working on ways to address the main challenges in offshore renewable power generation systems, such as lower density composites or lower cost composite and component manufacturing, gearbox alternatives, new designs for offshore wind, concentrators, anti-foul systems, alternative bearings materials, small scale, modular systems, generators, energy storage, coatings, joints, array design and connection, grid connection and innovative use of infrastructure, we want to support you.

We’re also keen to support companies who have spotted weaknesses in other elements of offshore systems and are developing improvements, and those involved in biochemical energy conversion and storage in the marine environment.

For technologies with commercial potential, the benefits on offer are:

  • Business support for product development and commercialisation (business plan coaching / critique / information research / feed of information – depending on what you need)
  • Support in finding finance, and introductions to partners and customers from our large and growing network
  • Space in OrbisEnergy, due to open in June 2021

Context

  • The UK is leading the world in marine (wave and tidal) technology developments.
  • Along the East of England coastline in the coming decade circa £8 billion will be invested in wind energy developments. Projects include the world’s largest wind farm – the £1.5 billion London Array with up to 341 turbines covering 90 square miles.
  • Nationally the amount of power generated through renewables annually will triple by 2015, from the current 2 GW – enough to power 1.1 million homes – to 6 GW.
  • In the East of England alone some 470,000 new homes will be built over the next 15 years and at least 10% of their energy will come from renewables.
  • The East of England is a world leader in low carbon technology, committed to generating 14% of its power from renewables by 2010 and ahead of its targets.

New entrants to Offshore Renewables

OrbisEnergy, the offshore renewables enterprise hub for innovation & knowledge transfer, is seeking innovation in the whole range of primary and supporting technologies which convert renewable energy in the offshore environment. We are keen to provide support into this market.

The commercial returns possible are now excellent following the introduction of additional Renewable Obligation Certificates for offshore wind (1.5 ROCs per MWh) and wind and tidal energy (2 ROCs per MWh).

With global demand for wind turbines also outstripping supply, never has the opportunity for market entry been so real, either through new technology or through building additional supply chain capacity.

Wind: With demand outstripping supply, there is scope to capture market share, either through driving down net cost, or through radical innovation in new technology, materials, joining methods, bearings & software, amongst others.

Wave: Waves are complex, the industry is young, so smart ways to maximise efficiency are at a premium – but not at the expense of cost competitiveness. We’re looking for whole system innovation downwards to individual components.

Tidal and Marine Current: Big or modular? Simple, few moving parts, robust, low maintenance; these are some of the criteria on which innovators pin their attention to achieve commercially attractive propositions.

Biochemical: Organisms have been harnessing vast quantities of offshore energy for eons. Can we use them to produce it for us, or can we learn from them to produce our own systems?

If you have expertise in any aspect of offshore renewables, some of which are below, you could add value to the offshore renewable industry through your innovation.

  • Access Equipment
  • Adhesives
  • Alternators
  • Anti vibration systems
  • Bearings, housings
  • Bed plates
  • Blade Cleaning
  • Blade root joints
  • Bolt tensioning
  • Braking systems
  • Cables, connections
  • Castings
  • Circuit protection
  • Coating technologies
  • Control systems
  • Cooling systems
  • Couplings, fasteners
  • Drivetrain components
  • Electric motors
  • Filters & filtration
  • Financing
  • Foundations
  • Gearing systems
  • Generator
  • Grid & connections
  • Heat exchangers
  • Heat Treatment
  • Hydraulic systems
  • Impact noise insulation
  • Joining technologies
  • Load analysis
  • Lubrication
  • Materials, particularly composites
  • Maintenance & operation
  • Meteorological equipment
  • Operational monitoring
  • Pitching mechanisms
  • Platforms
  • Pneumatic systems
  • Power conditioning
  • Power conversion
  • Protection systems
  • Rotor hubs
  • Sensors
  • Shafts
  • Software
  • Structural members
  • Switchgear
  • Testing & Calibration
  • Towers
  • Transmissions