Floating Offshore Wind (FOW): Centre of Excellence

Tender description

As part of the wider £20m Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) Programme, BEIS will support the development of less mature technology solutions through an established 'Centre of Excellence' (COE). A COE in this space is a consortium of industrial partners which funds feasibility studies for FOW technologies that have a 'TRL' (technology readiness level) that is too low for a demonstration project. It is important for the FOW Programme to continue horizon scanning for innovation opportunities through the evaluation of emerging technologies. The most effective way for the programme to achieve this within timeframes is by participating in an existing association or COE. There is only 1 existing COE that operates in the FOW industry, focused at the right TRL and with a UK focus: The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult led COE. Lot 1: ​It is important for the Floating Offshore Wind programme to continue horizon scanning for innovation opportunities through evaluation of emerging technologies, ie those that are of a readiness level beyond research and development (R&D), but not yet mature enough for a demonstration project. The most effective way for the programme to achieve this within the necessary timeframes is by participation in an existing association or centre of excellence (COE). The CoE for FOW administered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is an established consortium, currently with 13 members (developers). The consortium has similar objectives to SICE for FOW and are focusing their feasibility studies on technologies with lower TRL