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ORE Catapult's technology accelerator Launch Academy is open for applications

ORE Catapult are accepting applications for their flagship technology accelerator programme, Launch Academy. Applications for Launch Academy 2024 went live on 6^th November and will remain open until 8^th December.

This is ORE Catapult’s fourth iteration of their award-winning 9-month technology accelerator programme, and is supported by three fantastic industry sponsors:

• RWE
• ScottishPower Renewables
• bp

Successful companies can expect to receive nine months of technology development, business case analysis, commercialisation, and business growth support delivered by ORE Catapult and a cadre of specialist external delivery partners, in addition to an opportunity to develop links and relationships with the leading offshore wind developers sponsoring the programme.

Launch Academy 2024 is accepting applications from companies developing innovations targeting a variety of technology thematic challenge areas, developed directly by ORE Catapult in collaboration with industry sponsors. These include:

• Project Pipeline:
• Installation: Impact-reducing innovations relevant to the Installation stage of an offshore wind farm’s lifecycle
• Operation: Impact -reducing innovations relevant to the Operational stage of an offshore wind farm’s lifecycle
• Future Energy Systems:
• Electrification and Decarbonisation of Vessel Operations
• Shore Charging and Grid Maximisation
• Smart O&M:
• Condition Monitoring
• Surface Coating and Protection
• HSE
• Open Call
• An open call for applications from any company developing a technology, product or service relevant to the offshore wind sector

Further information on the technology thematic challenge areas can be found by navigating to the Launch Academy 2024 landing page here. In addition, if any interested companies would like to hear more about the Launch Academy 2024 programme itself, ORE Catapult hosted a Briefing Webinar for the programme which included presentations from each of the programme’s industry sponsors for 2024 on November 10^th. A link to the recording from this session can be found here.

Eligibility: Any company actively seeking to commercialise a technology solution in the offshore wind sector is welcome to apply. This opportunity is available to UK-registered companies, or companies with an ambition to establish a presence in the United Kingdom.

Successful companies will be shortlisted following the close of applications on December 8^th, with finalists invited to pitch in January/February 2024 and winners announced shortly thereafter.

Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm now fully operational

• First Minister Humza Yousaf says Seagreen milestone takes Scotland a step closer to net zero 
• UK’s newest offshore wind farm is generating enough renewable energy to power almost 1.6 million homes annually
• Seagreen is now Scotland’s largest and the world’s deepest fixed-bottom offshore wind farm

17 October 2023: SSE Renewables, part of SSE plc, and its partner TotalEnergies have announced all 114 Vestas V164-10.0 MW turbines at the 1.1GW Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Scotland are now fully operational and are generating clean, renewable energy to Britain’s power grid.

Situated 27km off the Angus coast in the North Sea’s Firth of Forth, Seagreen is now Scotland’s largest wind farm as well as the world’s deepest fixed-bottom offshore wind farm, with its deepest foundation installed at a record 58.7 metres below sea level^. Seagreen is operated from a dedicated onshore Operations and Maintenance Base at Montrose Port.

The 1,075MW project has the capacity to generate enough renewable electricity to power almost 1.6 million homes annually, equivalent to two-thirds of all Scottish homes*. Seagreen also has the capability to displace over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from electricity generated by fossil fuels every year – making a significant contribution to Scotland’s net-zero ambition by 2045*.

The news has been warmly welcomed by the Scottish and UK governments.

Read the publication from SSE Renewables. 

Scottish Renewables' Supply Chain Impact Statement - Submissions Open

Submissions are now open for the fifth edition of the Scottish Renewables’ Supply Chain Impact Statement document.

The document aims to highlight thriving companies and organisations utilising their expertise, skills and capabilities to deliver work across all renewable energy technologies.

Scottish Renewables is seeking submissions for the document from suppliers based in Scotland who have renewable energy successes to share. We are looking for good news from across the sector including: contract wins, innovations, new offices, growing teams and increasing ambitions in technologies from offshore wind to green hydrogen and low-carbon heat.

Entries can be submitted through this online form. 

Deadline for case study submissions is Monday, 27 November.

It is free, quick and easy to submit and is open to all.

For inspiration, last year’s document is available on the Scottish Renewables website. 

Submit Now

Mapping Offshore Wind Capabilities in Scotland

At Forth and Tay Offshore, we are embarking on an exciting initiative to gain insights into the offshore wind supply chain in Scotland, and we need your valuable input to make it a success.

We are aiming to understand and map the capabilities of the offshore wind supply chain in Scotland. Whether your company is currently active in offshore wind, was previously active, or is looking to get involved, your input is important to us. 

With this short questionnaire, we hope to showcase Scotland as a destination of choice for offshore wind, highlight companies, projects and supply chain active in Scotland as well as in our own geographical area of the east coast of Scotland, and further support supply chain engagement opportunities.

We'd like to hear from you even if you aren't a member of an offshore wind cluster, and please do consider joining us - membership is free. 

Thank you for being an integral part of this endeavor. We look forward to your valuable insights and the positive impact they will make.