Monthly Newsletter from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
MARCH, 2020
Latest News, Insight and Analysis
Covid-19 Update
Hello and welcome to the March edition of Re-Energise Online!
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, here at ORE Catapult we are following Government advice and recommendations and are working to provide an environment that will support our project partners and customers remotely in these unprecedented and uncertain times. Our aim is to maintain business continuity as well as the safety and wellbeing of our staff and the people we work with.
We continue to support our sector – helping to keep wind farms operational and providing support to businesses, particularly SMEs. In addition to our large online repository of industry knowledge, advice and guidance available via our website, we are investigating how we might be able to facilitate, for example, discussions between O&M operators and the supply chain to support resource sharing and business continuity during this period, and we are keen to hear of any specific challenges that businesses are currently facing to see if we can help.
Contact us at info@ore.catapult.org.uk or via your usual Catapult contact to discuss ways in which we can help and support you.
Calling All UK Innovators! Cutting-Edge Solutions for Covid-19
Can you do your part to help tackle the global Covid-19 crisis? The UK Government has called for leading innovators and manufacturers to help the UK step up production of vital medical equipment, such as ventilators. You could help by offering skills and expertise as well as manufacturing the components themselves. Businesses can get involved in any part of the process: design, procurement, assembly, testing, and shipping.
BEIS is asking companies to log their interest in helping via https://ventilator.herokuapp.com/. The site asks companies to provide some basic information on their capabilities and what resources they might be able to provide to help the country meet the urgent need for ventilators.
North East Launch Academy Announces First Winning Cohort
The North East Launch Academy welcomes its first winning cohort to the 12-week cleantech accelerator programme. The six UK innovators - OxraGrid, Origin Tech, Beluga Seatech, Utility AR, Wootzano and Build Stream – are all developing ambitious cleantech solutions to enhance the North East of England’s offshore wind supply chain.
As part of the North East Launch Academy programme, the winning cohort will now undergo core modules provided by the partners, including funding, legal, IP, accountancy and investor readiness support, as well as modules delivered by ORE Catapult such as technology assessment, supply chain readiness and business case review.
The Importance of Cross-Sector Innovation in Offshore Wind
If the UK is to maintain its world leader status in offshore wind, as well as meet its ambitious net-zero goals by 2050, adopting proven technology from other sectors is essential.
For offshore wind, there are clear synergies in operations and maintenance procedures with the oil and gas, automotive and aerospace sectors. However, inspiration and innovation can come from all sorts of industries. Here at the Catapult, we work with companies with innovative ideas and technologies across a wide spectrum in order to accelerate the growth of offshore renewable energy.
In our latest blog, Cross-Sector Innovation at the Heart of Offshore Wind, we explore some of the cutting-edge cross-sector innovations that we are supporting to accelerate the growth of the offshore wind sector.
With big data, digitalisation and cybersecurity hot topics for the offshore wind industry, we’re at the forefront of the sector’s digital transformation through our Wind Digital Innovations Forum (WDIF).
The WDIF is a unique collaboration of data owners and solution providers, working together to overcome some of the key data issues facing the wind industry.
The WDIF will build on The Catapult's extensive experience and existing portfolio of wind-related digital and data initiatives such as SPARTA, WEBS and POD and will focus on four key strategic work programmes: Cybersecurity; Data Maturity; Data Integration and Digital Supply Chain Engagement.
