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ORE Catapult Mulls Humber Expansion
UK's technology innovation and research center Offshore
Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced ambitious expansion
plans in the Humber, including a commitment to open a base of
operations in Grimsby and create 50 to 70 jobs in the region in
the next 10 years.
The Catapult is already an active member of Aura, a regional
partnership of leading industry and academic organisations
focused on driving forward the growth of the UK's offshore wind
sector, and collaborates with the University of Hull as part of
the Operations & Maintenance Center of Excellence (OMCE) to
develop research and innovation projects designed to improve the
way that offshore wind farms are operated and maintained.
Ben George, former Director of Aura, has been appointed as the
Catapult's General Manager in the Humber and will lead the
organisation's growth in the region as it looks to build on and
strengthen its existing relationships with Aura, and its
partners, by expanding both its presence and portfolio of
offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) projects.
With a portfolio of 70 O&M projects, the Catapult is aligning
its activities with regional and national priorities, supporting
the emerging Humber Offshore Wind Cluster and ensuring regional
activities have a UK-wide impact.
Chris Hill, Operational Performance Director for ORE Catapult,
said: "The Humber, with its energy heritage, location, and
extensive experience of servicing offshore wind farms, has
quickly established itself as the UK's centre of excellence in
operating and maintaining the existing UK offshore wind fleet."
"The Humber's O&M cluster includes Ørsted's expanding East
Coast Hub, Innogy's planned base for Triton Knoll, and suppliers
including CWind, James Fisher and Rix Sea Shuttles, and is
supported by expertise in the wider Humber area, including Aura
and the University of Hull. Therefore, it makes it the ideal
location from which the Catapult can continue, and expand, its
technology innovation and research activities, working with
industry and academia to ensure the UK remains a world-leader in
the global offshore wind sector," Hill added.
O&M activities make up almost a quarter of the lifetime costs
of an offshore wind project, but with 75% O&M content coming
from the UK supply chain, the UK has a competitive advantage in
servicing the offshore fleet, as well as providing a huge
opportunity for UK companies to supply their products and
services both domestically and exporting them internationally to
a fast-growing global market.
Nov 5, 2019
