The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched a £2 million competition to support the scaling up of UK supply chain companies in the offshore wind sector. The initiative is part of OWGP's Development Grant programme, which aims to strengthen the UK's position in the global offshore wind market.
The grants, which range from £50,000 to £500,000, are available to companies within the offshore wind sector as well as those outside it, provided their projects align with the priorities outlined in the Supply Chain Capability Analysis and Industrial Growth Plan. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis, with priority given to proposals that feature near-to-market or market-ready solutions, and a clear ambition for growth in the sector.
In 2024, OWGP allocated £3 million in total, awarding funding to 12 UK-based companies to foster innovation and growth in the sector. This included £1 million in Innovation Grants, supported by Ocean Winds and ScottishPower Renewables, and £2 million in Development Grants.
Among the recipients of Development Grants were Hutchinson Engineering, Power CSL, RelyOn, Global Greenergy Group, and Oxford Sensors. The Innovation Grant recipients included Synaptec, Sedwell (trading as InterBolt), Marine Power Systems, Apollo, Crondall Energy, HonuWorx, and HPR Rov.
Melissa Read, Offshore Wind Manager at Equinor and board observer for the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), emphasized the importance of a resilient supply chain, saying: “As the UK works towards its ambitious offshore wind capacity targets, the need for a resilient and competitive supply chain has never been greater. OWGP's Development Grant programme is designed to support this growth, providing financial backing to help businesses scale up.
