HR Wallingford has successfully secured funding from The Crown Estate through the initial round of its innovative Supply Chain Accelerator (“the Accelerator”).
This is match funding to support the development of a National Deep Water Testing Facility for Floating Offshore Wind projects. This funding will enable pre-development work for the facility in the UK, further solidifying our commitment to solving complex engineering challenges faced by the offshore wind sector and supporting the growth in renewables and transition to net-zero.
Established in May, the Accelerator is a £50m fund created to accelerate and de-risk the early-stage development of UK supply chain projects that service the offshore wind sector.
In early 2024, The Crown Estate published the Celtic Sea Blueprint which predicted that 5,300 jobs and a £1.4bn economic boost could be generated through deploying the first floating offshore wind capacity, that will result from the current Leasing Round 5 process, in the waters off South Wales and South-West England.
The research highlighted a number of opportunities for supply chain growth essential for the development of these floating wind farms, including: floating platform components; dynamic cables and connections; wet storage infrastructure and facilities; operations and management infrastructure and facilities; and skills transition facilities.
The Crown Estate’s role is to create long-term value for the country, and it focuses on using the land and seabed it manages to help catalyse net zero, restore nature, create thriving communities and drive economic growth.
Andrew. J Brown, Joint Acting CEO, Commercial said “We are delighted to receive this funding towards a facility that we think will provide significant value to the Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) sector and look forward to engaging with operators to develop the specification of this National Deep Water Testing Facility”.
Will Apps, Offshore Wind Strategy Director at The Crown Estate, said: “It’s fantastic to announce the successful organisations receiving funding through our Supply Chain Accelerator. We’ve been encouraged by the level of interest the Accelerator has generated in the market and are delighted with the calibre and range of projects which we’ll be supporting.
“The purpose of the Accelerator is to help grow and nurture the UK’s domestic supply chain, a crucial factor if the UK is to realise the potential of offshore wind in delivering its ambitious clean power and net zero goals, contributing to jobs and prosperity in communities across the UK.”
