FLOWIC
The national Floating Wind Innovation Centre (FLOWIC), situated in the heart of Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, is the UK’s first innovation centre focused purely on the development of floating offshore wind technology.
Delivered by our FLOWIC team at ORE Catapult and supported by ETZ Ltd, it plays host to bespoke and world-leading equipment designed to help accelerate the commercialisation of floating offshore wind in the UK, through the testing and validation of new technologies and products.
The North East of Scotland has an opportunity to use its first mover advantage and be a global leader in offshore floating wind given the significant synergies with subsea technologies and expertise.
The location of the Floating Wind Innovation Centre in the UK’s energy capital can help the North East of Scotland and the wider UK capitalise on the massive opportunity created by the deployment of floating offshore wind.
OUR FLOWIC FACILITIES:
Initial focus areas for FLOWIC focus on the development, testing and qualification of critical floating wind technologies including moorings, anchoring and dynamic cable systems, as well as the design and optimisation of floating offshore wind technologies and projects – including project construction, operations and maintenance.
A large-scale dynamic cable fatigue testing rig
Designed and built specifically for use in this facility, to test and validate the strength, performance and reliability of dynamic subsea cables – a critical component of floating offshore wind farms.
Large-scale anchor test rig
Tests dynamic anchoring systems – another unique element of floating wind technology
Hexapod dynamic platform rig
This simulates the movements faced by floating turbine platforms out at sea
Virtual reality studio
To allow engineers to envisages scenarios and challenges likely faced in the build-out of future floating wind turbines
OUR PRIORITIES AT FLOWIC
FLOWIC focuses on the development, testing, and qualification of critical floating wind technologies including moorings, anchoring and dynamic cable systems. It also focuses on the design and optimisation of floating offshore wind technologies and projects – including project construction, operations and maintenance.
Specific priorities include:
Support the development of a floating wind supply chain
Increase UK content for new offshore wind farm developments in the future and strengthen O&M practices
Support industry with research, test, deployment and validation in relation to offshore wind
Enable collaboration between academia and industry to drive down costs of floating wind
Support clustering of energy transition investment and activities
Facilitate the transition of technologies from other industries, such as oil and gas;
Enable technology developers to reduce risks, such as premature failure and reducing unplanned maintenance.
The development of floating offshore wind is one of the biggest opportunities in the UK today to secure real global leadership. Working in collaboration with industry, government and other stakeholders, we can grasp the unprecedented opportunity for UK technology and process innovation to solve challenges such as faster consenting and enhanced grid solutions, driving economic and supply chain growth and job creation as we strive to achieve Net Zero.”
Andrew Jamieson
CEO at ORE Catapult
PODCAST AT FLOWIC
During the opening of FLOWIC (Floating Wind Innovation Centre), our Business Development Manager Tessa Scott sat down with three companies, all of who have worked closely with ORE Catapult, and who have joined us to demonstrate their technologies and services.
CONTACT OUR TEAM
