The UK Government has selected ORE Catapult and the Workboat Association (WA) to develop an Innovation Roadmap, outlining a route to the decarbonisation of North Sea offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) vessels.
The Roadmap, set to be published later this year, will consider key areas such as vessels, ports, and alternative fuels. It will recommend a set of clear, evidence-based guidelines to inform industry, investors, and policymakers how to best decarbonise the sector.
Chris Hill, Operational Performance Director for ORE Catapult, said: “By helping to identify the right interventions and actions for government, industry and regulators, we hope that the rapid decarbonisation of the offshore wind industry’s maritime logistics will prove to be a springboard to broader maritime decarbonisation and the creation of a thriving clean maritime industry in the UK.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) are funding this research and an accompanying industry engagement programme, both in the UK and Europe, ahead of the UK Government hosting COP26, due to take place in November 2021 in Glasgow.
The Innovation Roadmap is providing the blueprint for Operation Zero; a DfT led coalition of ambitious industry players working towards zero emissions workboats operating in North Sea offshore wind farms by 2025. At COP26 this year, DfT will champion Operation Zero on the global stage, while FCDO continues to lead on European clean growth cooperation and partnerships.
We are asking UK maritime industry stakeholders and European collaborators to work with us to develop the Innovation Roadmap and Operation Zero, helping us achieve our vision of clean North Sea offshore wind vessel operations.
