RWE, the UK’s leading electricity generator and offshore wind developer has championed a total of 19 innovative UK companies through its support of both the national and East of England Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult Launch Academy technology acceleration programme.
A number of the companies are now involved directly with RWE through either non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), pilot programmes, or through the commissioning of studies to enable further exploration of possible joint opportunities.
The national and regional programmes which began in 2019 have so far raised £22 million of investment and supported 47 companies. This year’s national Launch Academy is halfway through with 10 companies gaining commercial, legal and technical advice on how to progress their ideas and concepts. The East of England programme has recently kicked off with a further nine companies able to take advantage of six months of expert support to help them towards commercialisation.
As a key industry sponsor of the national initiative, RWE identified three topics that present challenges for the offshore wind industry and require innovative solutions. These included use of remotely operated vessels and vehicles, cable monitoring and protection, and ways to improve assessment and monitoring of marine birds. RWE is now working with ORE Catapult to support the chosen companies as they work to progress their ideas.
In June ORE Catapult launched the first East of England Launch Academy – a region that is one of the UK’s largest offshore renewable energy hubs and an important region for RWE’s green energy developments. RWE is the key industry sponsor for this exciting opportunity that will run until the end of the year with each of the nine companies receiving support worth up to £25,000.
The Launch Academy was designed to enhance the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, focusing on accelerating technology within the offshore renewables industry and supporting cost reduction through innovation.
Danielle Lane, Director of offshore development UK and Ireland at RWE, commented, “RWE has six offshore wind farms in development in the UK and innovation will be a key component in their success. The industry faces ever-growing challenges globally and in order to deliver the gigawatts of offshore wind required to support a decarbonized energy system, collaboration, innovation, and a drive for sustainability are required.
“RWE is keen to play a role in ensuring local companies and suppliers around our projects have the opportunity to bring forward innovative solutions, technologies and concepts that could potentially benefit the wider offshore wind sector.”
Dr Stephen Wyatt, Director of Strategy and Emerging Technology at ORE Catapult, said: The East of England is at the very heart of the UK’s offshore wind sector, and through this regional programme we want to help unleash the potential of SMEs across the region looking to fast track their technology and tap into the supply chain opportunities on offer. As offshore wind plays an ever increasing role in our energy mix and our journey towards net zero, we need to keep finding new ways of helping innovative UK companies stay at the cutting edge of the developments that will power future projects.”
RWE is a leading renewables player and has ambitions to invest up to £15 billion in the UK up to 2030, developing clean energy projects to support the green transition, while creating high quality green jobs across the length and breadth of the country.
During 2022, the 856 megawatts (MW) Triton Knoll offshore wind farm became fully operational, while RWE’s 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm is well into construction. RWE is also involved in four of the UK’s seven offshore wind extension projects and has signed Agreements for Lease for their two Dogger Bank South offshore wind farm sites. Meanwhile, the company is also exploring floating wind projects including in the Celtic Sea region.
