The Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Engineering (DARE) Centre at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult's testing facility in Blyth was inaugurated by Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart.
According to ORE Catapult, the £3 million DARE Centre is the first of its kind in the UK.
The center will provide developers, researchers, and the wider industry with a unique opportunity to test, demonstrate, and commercialize innovative digital and robotic products and services for the offshore renewable energy market. These technologies are crucial for the rapid expansion of offshore wind in the UK, which is set to triple its capacity over the next decade, and for achieving Net Zero emissions.
The offshore renewable energy sector is increasingly reliant on robotics and autonomous systems, and the UK aims to establish a world-leading supply chain associated with their future development.
Stuart expressed his delight at opening the UK's national robotics center for offshore wind, stating, “Drones, robots, and underwater vehicles can strengthen the UK's position as the world leader in offshore wind, enhance competitiveness, and ensure turbines continue operating even in hazardous conditions. The robotics center will improve the safety and productivity of our highly skilled offshore wind technicians, reduce costs, and contribute to lower consumer bills and national energy security.”
The technology tested at the DARE Centre will support the growth of the offshore wind market and accelerate the success of services and digital infrastructure related to the industry.
Andrew Jamieson, chief executive at ORE Catapult, praised the DARE Centre as a fantastic facility that will enable the UK to maintain its innovative edge in robotics, AI, and digital solutions for offshore renewables. He stated, “The DARE Centre will propel UK businesses and their capabilities into the rapidly expanding offshore wind sector. The innovation we can unlock here will enable those at the forefront of offshore wind development to work faster and safer, optimize specialized skills, improve reliability, and reduce the carbon footprint of the next generation of offshore wind farms.”
The DARE Centre features a robotics assembly bay, an airborne robotics test zone, three dry docks with a capacity of 20,000m³, and test control rooms connected to the docks via a live environment monitoring system.
The center is part of ORE Catapult's National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, which offers various test and validation facilities, including leading wind turbine testing and an offshore demonstration zone.
Companies such as Kinewell, Enshore Subsea, SMD, EnergyVue, BeeX, Sonardyne, Eleven-I, Innvotek, and Aspira Aerial Applications showcased their technology solutions at the DARE Centre opening. These companies are working on streamlining offshore wind turbine installation and significantly improving operations and maintenance on offshore wind farms.
Enshore Subsea, BeeX, and Aspira Aerial Applications have already committed to testing their products at the new DARE Centre. Aspira is developing a specialized coating that can be applied to wind turbine blades by a drone to remove salt build-up and debris. The aim is to enhance turbine power output and minimize downtime.
