Monthly Newsletter from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Latest News, Insight and Analysis

Hello and welcome to the May edition of Re-Energise Online!

As the world continues to adapt and evolve to new ways of working in light of the Coronavirus outbreak, here at ORE Catapult it has been business-almost-as-usual, with testing activity continuing at full pace at Blyth, extensive research programmes all progressing and support to innovative businesses continuing at apace.

This month, we launched our first Covid-19 related innovation challenge alongside the Knowledge Transfer Network, G+ Offshore Wind and the Workboat Association to ensure social distancing measures are put in place on crew transfer vessels and allow for continued operation and maintenance of wind farms. Our Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence joined forces with wave-energy developer Bombora to launch a floating wave technology research project. ORE Catapult is part of the consortium for the newly launched MARLIN STAR project that is set to spearhead the development of floating energy platforms. Finally, in light of the cross-sector opportunities in offshore renewable energy for the oil and gas supply chain, our latest blog 'Transitioning from Oil and Gas to Offshore Renewable Energy' looks at the synergies that exist between the two industries. 

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. New Call for Solution to Improve Safety of Offshore Technicians

2. ORE Catapult Partners with Bombora in Floating Wave Technology Project

3. MARLIN STAR Spearheads Development of Floating Energy Platform

4. Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Low Carbon Energy

5. Upcoming ORE Catapult Webinars

New Call for Solution to Improve Safety of Offshore Technicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Windcat crew transfer vessel

Calling all innovators! In response to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we are working alongside the Knowledge Transfer Network, G+ Offshore Wind and the Workboat Association to create a cross-sector innovation challenge to ensure social distancing measures can still take place on crew transfer vessels offshore.

The innovation call presents a significant commercial opportunity to the successful solution provider, with the potential to offer the solution to workboat operators in other industries.

Chris Hill, Operational Performance Director at ORE Catapult, said: “Being able to operate and maintain the UK’s offshore wind fleet safely in the face of Covid-19 is essential to keep the lights on and safeguard thousands of jobs. It will also be vital in accelerating UK economic recovery and meeting our decarbonisation targets as we exit this crisis.”

ORE Catapult Join Forces with Bombora to Launch Cutting-Edge Floating Wave Technology Research Project

Wave energy developer Bombora has partnered with our Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence (MEECE) to launch a floating wave technology research project.

The project will investigate the feasibility of co-locating Bombora’s mWave^TM technology with floating wind structures as well as providing a techno-economic appraisal of extending the technology in an offshore environment.

Offshore renewable energy is on course to provide much of the power needed to grow the UK economy and, when combined with the global export potential, represents the largest clean growth opportunity for the UK economy. This collaborative project cuts right to the heart of two important areas for innovation in offshore renewable energy right now – the development of wave energy and floating wind.

MARLIN STAR Project Spearheads the Development of Floating Energy Platform

Trevor Hardcastle, engineer behind the patented MARLIN modular floating platform

The £1.4m MARLIN STAR project is set to revolutionise local energy generation, storage and usage as it spearheads the development of floating renewable energy. The project aims to progress the development and commercialisation of an innovative modular, floating renewable energy platform that will enable coastal community access to stored and transferable clean energy. 

ORE Catapult is part of the project consortium and will undertake market analysis and the mechanical testing, assembly and initial demonstration of the floating platform.

"The MARLIN STAR project is a great example of UK ingenuity and collaboration, with huge potential as a floating wind solution for powering off-grid coastal communities" said Stephen Robertson, ORE Catapult's Head of Business Development.

Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Low Carbon Energy

As the energy sector begins to transition from decades of oil & gas production to the adoption of offshore renewable energy, we ask ORE Catapult’s Tom Quinn, Analysis and Insight Manager, and Hugh Riddell, Regional Partnership Manager, to share their experience of working in both industries and what lessons can be learned.

This energy transition has never been more important as the UK works towards its ambitious net-zero targets by 2050. To do so is not to say that offshore renewable energy will replace oil and gas production immediately – it is a growing partnership between the two industries, with particular importance placed on the role of floating offshore wind in decarbonising the oil & gas industry.

Tom and Hugh share their experience about the similarities and crossovers experienced between the sectors, both in terms of technology advancements and cost reductions.

Don't Miss Out! Upcoming Webinars with ORE Catapult

With the world turned upside-down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, here at ORE Catapult, we're moving our events online. With a click of a button, discover the latest insights in offshore renewable energy as well as exciting updates in our projects. 

Our upcoming webinars include:

• 5th June 2020: Rovco's SubSLAM: Taking Novel Technology to the Offshore Wind Sector
• 8th June 2020: OPIN - Introduction to European Tidal Stream Projects

Find out more and register for all of our upcoming webinars via our website.