The funding will help boost innovation in the UK offshore wind supply chain
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched a £1 million Innovation Funding competition to help accelerate innovation in Industrial Foundations and Substructures and Substations and Electrical Design within the UK offshore wind supply chain
The programme will provide UK-based suppliers with the opportunity to secure funding of £25,000 to £200,000 per project to support near-to-market or market-ready solutions. Companies already active within offshore wind and those seeking to diversify into the sector are eligible to apply.
The competition is supported by OWGP’s Industry Champions, Equinor and SSE Renewables, who have expressed interest in the selected innovation themes. These themes expand on industry insights and align with priorities identified in the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan (IGP), underscoring areas where innovation can reinforce UK capability and supply chain competitiveness.
Tom Nightingale, local supply chain manager at Equinor, said, “Equinor is proud to support OWGP’s Innovation Funding programme, which plays a vital role in creating a robust and technologically advanced UK offshore wind supply chain. The latest funding call is key to driving forward the Industrial Growth Plan, looking to strengthen UK competitiveness in the global market.”
Tom Speedie, project manager at the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, said, “Industrial opportunity in the UK offshore wind sector has never been greater. The recent results of Allocation Round 7 have added 8.4GW to the pipeline, driving increased demand across the supply chain. As developers push ahead at pace, suppliers must be ready to capitalise on the opportunities ahead.”
Speedie added, “Our Innovation Funding programme backs disruptive technologies that will ensure the UK can compete in the global marketplace and contribute to the UK’s long-term industrial success.”
This programme is part of a wider effort by OWGP to develop a globally competitive UK offshore wind supply chain, create thousands of skilled jobs, and generate billions in economic value over the next decade by targeting supply chain investment.
Applications to the programme close on Friday, March 20, at 17:00. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis towards projects capable of providing strong, measurable outcomes for the supply chain.
For more information, visit: Innovation Grants – Offshore Wind Growth Partnership
