LM Wind Power Blade arriving at ORE Catapult, Blyth.

World's Longest Wind Turbine Blade has Arrived at ORE Catapult's Testing Facilities

The world’s longest wind turbine blade arrived in Blyth this month to be put through its paces at our 100m blade-test facility in the near future.

The 107m LM Wind Power blade will undergo a full range of testing to demonstrate its ability to withstand the most severe offshore wind conditions and simulate its readiness for years of operation at sea. This will contribute to advancing the UK supply chain and driving global growth of the sector, ultimately reducing costs and generating substantial benefits for the economy and environment.

This represents a huge milestone for our testing facilities – as well as the UK offshore renewable industry - as we cement ourselves as world leaders in the testing and validation of the offshore wind sector.

Vattenfall's European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre

Exciting Opportunity for Offshore Wind Innovators at EOWDC Facilities

Following the £1.5m collaboration between ORE Catapult and Vattenfall, the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) is offering an exciting opportunity for innovative companies in the offshore wind sector. The EOWDC has launched its Technology Accelerator project which will give innovators the chance to test their new technologies using the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities in Aberdeen Bay.

With a primary focus on the operation and maintenance problems facing the offshore wind sector, the Technology Accelerator project is seeking pioneering solutions and innovators to work with the Catapult and develop their technologies to a market-ready state.

ORE Catapult is key partner in £10,000-prize Hackathon 

The Catapult has partnered with ScottishPower Renewables, National Grid and the Energy Technology Partnership in its first £10,000-prize hackathon.

Taking place on 28th-29th October, this two-day hackathon will centre around an industrial data-led challenge which will see the winners develop a prototype solution to be used to advance the UK's offshore wind sector.

Digital innovators are encouraged to apply from all backgrounds to compete to win the £10,000 prize pot as well as the opportunity to pitch their solution to senior contacts in ScottishPower Renewables and work with ORE Catapult to develop their solution further.

ORE Catapult supports innovate SMEs gain access to the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund of £30m.

The Catapult is giving innovative SMEs with ground-breaking ideas the opportunity to work with us in order to help them secure funding from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The challenge will focus on the use of industrial digital technologies that are able to transform manufacturing in their respective industries - including the offshore renewable energy sector. The UK Government are looking for projects which have the potential for rapid impact in transforming the productivity and agility of UK manufacturing.

ORE Catapult is offering its experience, expertise and facilities to support a collaborative bid and make your product market-ready. These services include cost-benefit analysis, industry insight and product validation post-manufacture.