The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, a prominent UK innovation center, is set to enhance and expand its testing capabilities with a significant capital injection of GBP 85.6 million (USD 107.4 million / EUR 99.5 million) from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), an announcement made today reveals.
This substantial investment will facilitate the testing of blades measuring up to 150 meters (492 feet) and drive trains up to 23 MW, propelling the advancement of the next generation of wind turbines in the UK.
ORE Catapult's National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth is poised for transformation, with plans for the construction of a new 150-meter blade test facility alongside the existing 100-meter facility, which will be repurposed. Additionally, there will be an upgrade to the drive train test facility, currently operating at 15 MW, to accommodate up to 23 MW. Both facilities, expected to be fully operational by 2028, hold the potential for future expansion to 180 meters and 28 MW.
Andrew Jamieson, Chief Executive of ORE Catapult, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, “This investment in truly world-leading capability will keep the UK at the forefront of offshore wind technology development.”
Richard Sandford, co-chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the expected impact on the UK's offshore wind sector. “The blades and drive trains which will be tested by world-class experts in Blyth are expected to make UK offshore wind projects even more cost-competitive,” Sandford said, “and see supply chain companies exporting this technology overseas, adding value to the UK's economy and helping to accelerate the pace of global decarbonisation.”
RenewableUK CEO Dan McGrail emphasized the economic benefits of this investment, particularly in the context of the recently launched Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind. “Last month we launched an Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind which shows how proactively focussing on high-value components such as blades will boost the UK's economy,” McGrail noted, “by GBP 25 billion and support an extra 10,000 jobs over the next ten years.”
