The Scottish government has committed 1.5 million British pounds (approximately $2.2 million) to the Carbon Trust in support of its Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) research and design program.
Set up in 2008, the OWA is a joint industry project that now involves nine offshore wind developers: DONG Energy, E.ON, EnBW, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall.
Previous funding rounds have supported research into floating wind technology and the use of concrete foundations for offshore wind farms in deeper waters.
The Carbon Trust will fund projects in the following three areas:
- Continuing to explore the opportunity that floating offshore wind offers to Scotland;
- Encouraging international collaboration on offshore wind developers’ most pressing problems, specifically addressing how developers working in Scottish waters can make offshore wind more efficient; and
- Sharing knowledge on innovation and cost reduction between partners.
“Previous Scottish government support for the OWA has helped develop new ideas in key areas of importance to companies operating in Scottish waters, and I have no doubt this new funding will help firms to continue this important work,” states Paul Wheelhouse, energy minister.
“Only last week, around 350 jobs were announced as a direct result of the construction of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm – highlighting the massive opportunity offshore wind presents to Scotland and the Scottish economy.”
