North American Windpower: U.K. Government Initiative Aims To Cut Costs Of Offshore Wind Energy

by NAW Staff on Monday 05 November 2012

The U.K.'s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is making 10 million British pounds available for projects that aim to lower the costs of offshore wind power.

The initiative comprises two competitions. For the first competition, up to 7 million pounds of the funding will be made available under the DECC and the Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) component technologies development and demonstration scheme. DECC and TSB expect to help fund between five and 10 projects. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16, 2013.

Previous winners under the first round include David Brown Gear Systems Ltd., which was awarded 1.2 million pounds to help develop its 7 MW offshore wind turbine gearbox, and Gravitas Offshore Ltd., which received over 500,000 pounds to help develop and demonstrate its concrete gravity foundation for large offshore wind turbines. The winners of the second round will be announced soon.

The second competition makes 3 million British pounds available for the development of technical feasibility studies in the offshore wind innovation arena. This funding can be used to explore new ideas currently in the early stages of research.

Participants from a range of sectors - including those such as aerospace, oil and gas industries, where the adaptation of existing technologies for the offshore wind sector could help cut costs in the future - are encouraged to apply. Applications for this competition are also due by Jan. 16.

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