Monthly Newsletter from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Latest News, Insights and Analysis

Hello and welcome to the March edition of ReEnergise Online!

In our latest issue of ReEnergise Online, a recent report, published as part of the Energy Transition Alliance between ORE Catapult and the OGTC, is calling for increased investment and a radical shift in research and development into wind turbine blade recycling. Hot off the press, our tri-annual ReEnergise magazine's latest issue is now available, this time exploring the ways the offshore wind sector could adopt a circular economy. Innovative autonomous survey vessels, set to revolutionise offshore surveys and inspections, has completed a project with the Catapult to accelerate its route to market. Finally, we call on UK maritime industry stakeholders and European collaborators to work with us to achieve our vision of clean North Sea offshore wind vessel operations.

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. 

1. UK supply chain urged to seize economic opportunity from wind turbine blade recycling

2. New ReEnergise Magazine Now Available - Circular Economy: Offshore Wind's Sustainable Future

3. Innovative autonomous survey vessels to revolutionise offshore surveys and inspections

4. A Vision for Vessel Decarbonisation Requires Input from Maritime Industry

UK supply chain urged to seize economic opportunity from wind turbine blade recycling

A recent report, published as part of the Energy Transition Alliance between ORE Catapult and the OGTC, is calling for increased investment and a radical shift in research and development into wind turbine blade recycling. It cites the huge economic opportunities for the UK supply chain from a circular economy approach in offshore wind that could extend the sector's UK job creation targets by 30%, creating an extra 20,000 jobs. 

The report identified 14 technologies that show promise for recovering blade materials but that further work was needed before we see them deployed at scale, particularly around issues of environmental impacts, energy use and cost efficiency of techniques such as pyrolysis (heat treatment of composites). 

This gives a golden opportunity for UK companies to provide solutions for our recycling needs. It is estimated that the global offshore wind industry will need to decommission 85GW of capacity (including 325,000 blades) by mid-century. While these estimates assume today’s 25-year lifecycle, they give an illustration of the scale of the future global market for circular economy pioneers in the sector.

New ReEnergise Magazine Now Available - Circular Economy: Offshore Wind's Sustainable Future

The latest edition of our ReEnergise magazine showcases offshore wind’s innovative capacity and how the sector is embracing new circular economy approaches.

As offshore wind’s spectacular growth continues apace, the first-generation turbines are starting to reach the end of their service lives. This wave of new construction, combined with mass decommissioning, presents the industry with fresh challenges in how it manages its resources.

How can we sustainably secure the huge volumes of materials required? And how do we manage components and materials in line with sustainability and zero waste
ambitions? There is a stream of exciting research and technology innovation underway in the UK that will turn these challenges into new business opportunities.

Innovative autonomous survey vessels to revolutionise offshore surveys and inspections

HydroSurv’s REAV-40, a multipurpose autonomous surface vehicle for hydrographic and environmental survey

Exeter-based HydroSurv has worked closely with ORE Catapult and project partners Reygar and Core Blue as part of an Innovate UK-funded project to develop its USVs. The project supported the company’s journey to market by accelerating its Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from 3, experimental proof of concept, to 7, prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

In conjunction with other projects, this has led to a 10-fold increase in HydroSurv employees since the start of the project in 2018, to around 20 expected by summer 2021.

Chris Hill, ORE Catapult’s Operational Performance Director, added: “Robotic and autonomous systems technologies, like HydroSurv’s USVs, will play a crucial role in the UK’s transition to net zero and represent a huge opportunity to leverage its world-leading role in offshore wind, using its advanced robotics and autonomous systems sector to develop solutions for a global market.

A Vision for Vessel Decarbonisation Requires Input from Maritime Industry

ORE Catapult and The Workboat Association are working with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on the forthcoming Innovation Roadmap for the decarbonisation of offshore wind vessel operations. The Roadmap, set to be published later this year, will consider key areas such as vessels, ports, and alternative fuels and will recommend a set of clear, evidence-based guidelines to inform industry, investors, and policymakers how to best decarbonise the sector.

The Innovation Roadmap is providing the blueprint for Operation Zero, a DfT-led coalition of ambitious industry players working towards zero emissions workboats operating in North Sea offshore wind farms by 2025. At COP26 this year, DfT will champion Operation Zero on the global stage, while FCDO continues to lead on European clean growth cooperation and partnerships.

We are asking UK maritime industry stakeholders and European collaborators to work with us to develop the Innovation Roadmap and Operation Zero, helping us achieve our vision of clean North Sea offshore wind vessel operations.