OWGP releases £3.5m to drive UK offshore wind supply chain growth

UK businesses in the sector can take advantage of £3.5m to improve competitiveness, increase capability and accelerate growth. The grants can be used as capital or operational expenditure in projects that will unlock significant growth potential in UK content, jobs and export opportunities within the offshore wind sector.

Grants of up to £1m are available, to cover up to 50% of the total project budget. Development grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with successful proposals demonstrating a long-term business plan and a clear ambition for growth in the sector.

OWGP made the announcement as it exhibits at key industry event, Offshore Wind North East (OWNE). OWGP Programme Director, Andrew Macdonald commented:

“Today’s announcement of this latest pot of funding from OWGP is a huge opportunity for UK businesses to achieve a step change in growth within the UK’s offshore wind market and beyond. To date, OWGP has invested more than £6 million into offshore wind supply chain projects which is already resulting in significant contract wins and trade for some companies in our previous funding cohorts.

We continue to seek ambitious, high growth companies that are either already active in offshore wind or looking to transition from other sectors.”

Today, OWGP is also unveiling the seven companies successful in securing a portion of the £3.5 million funding pot released in May 2021:

JET Engineering Systems Solutions, Sulmara Subsea, Pict Offshore, Anakata Wind Power Resources, DFS Composites, James Walker & Company and Granada Material Handling have all been awarded OWGP Development Grants to support offshore wind supply chain projects totalling over £6 million. The successful projects have a key focus on improving capability, increasing competitiveness, and driving forward business growth within the offshore wind sector.

Huw Griffiths, CEO of Anakata Wind Power Resources commented, “Anakata are delighted to have been awarded funding from OWGP for the development of our 3D SuperAero Tip Booster for offshore wind turbine blades – an innovation that will improve revenues through additional energy capture as well as significantly reduce costs by tackling leading edge erosion and reducing fatigue loads on the blades. The support from OWGP will accelerate product development and deliver a market-ready solution to advance the performance of existing blades and new blade designs.”

OWGP plays a key role in delivery of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal and is funded by members of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), with a budget of £100m over ten years. The programme, delivered by ORE Catapult, supports the growth of UK businesses looking to capitalise on the huge opportunities offered by the global offshore wind sector.

Nearly 100 UK companies have already benefited from OWGP’s support since the organisation’s inception in 2019. OWGP provides a range of grant funding and business transformation programmes to support companies at different stages of their journey within offshore wind, helping them increase impact, productivity and growth.

Over 900 companies have now registered an interest on the OWGP website, where further information on the Development Grants can be found. For more information and to apply, visit the OWGP website: owgp.org.uk/about/grant-funding

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