The Global Underwater Hub (GUH) and Scottish Enterprise (SE) have entered into a partnership aimed at capitalizing on supply chain opportunities in the rapidly growing floating offshore wind sector.
The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the opening day of Subsea Expo 2025, marking the start of their collaboration to create a subsea supply chain ecosystem and establish a global “centre of excellence” for floating offshore wind.
The primary goal of the MoU is to maximize the economic potential of the floating offshore wind sector, which is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. The partnership will also support the transition of the UK's oil and gas underwater sector supply chain into floating offshore wind, a move that aligns with the UK's broader energy transition goals.
GUH and SE aim to create a collaborative environment in Scotland, helping local subsea companies enhance their capability and capacity to capitalize on floating offshore wind opportunities. With a global market value estimated at £1 trillion and £270 billion in the UK alone, the floating offshore wind sector presents substantial economic prospects.
Neil Gordon, CEO of GUH, said, “The growth of floating offshore wind brings massive opportunities for our underwater supply chain. ScotWind alone represents £28bn in development, manufacturing, and installation opportunities to bring 30GW of generating capacity online over the next decade and a further £33bn from operations and maintenance over the full life of a wind farm.”
He continued, “With extensive experience, skills and technology, honed over five decades in offshore energy, our supply chain is perfectly positioned to meet the challenges and complexity of floating offshore wind.”
The partnership will focus on addressing gaps in the UK's underwater supply chain infrastructure, identifying key areas such as subsea cable systems, moorings, anchoring, and underwater operations and maintenance. By bringing together the necessary companies, organizations, and resources, GUH and SE aim to provide targeted support and accelerate the development of the floating offshore wind industry both in the UK and internationally.
Scottish Enterprise's director for energy transition, Suzanne Sosna, added, “Our vision is for Scotland to be viewed around the world as a centre of excellence for offshore wind, with supply chains that are world-leading in terms of value, competitiveness, and service.”
She also emphasized the importance of collaboration in the sector's future success, stating, “This MoU ensures we will operate hand-in-hand with Global Underwater Hub to really maximise opportunities for supply chain companies, but also to get us to that place where the rest of the world looks to Scotland for the supply chain that will power the energy sector of the future.”
The Subsea Expo, hosted by GUH, is a key event in the subsea energy sector, attracting over 6,000 visitors and showcasing the latest advancements in subsea technology and innovation.
