Collaboration across the entire energy sector will be essential if the UK is to achieve its net zero carbon goals. In the oil and gas and offshore wind sectors, in particular, there are many synergies in their respective supply chains that can be built upon to aid the transition to a future green offshore energy sector.
Here at the Catapult, we work closely with the Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) to support this cross-sector collaboration and foster strong growth opportunities for both industries. This partnership has led to the creation of the Energy Transition Alliance – a ground-breaking collaboration that aims to transform the energy sector and accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero. The Alliance will develop a roadmap on how the North Sea Basin will transition from an oil and gas driven world today, to a position that aligns with the Government’s net zero targets by 2050. The roadmap will set out an ambitious plan for the decarbonisation of the production of oil and gas using floating wind power, an overall increase in renewable energy production, the generation of blue and green hydrogen as well as the growth in carbon capture and storage facilities.
The Energy Transition Alliance has kicked off five ambitious projects to support the North Sea’s transition to renewables that include developing solutions for the recycling and re-purposing of wind turbine blades, supporting the growth of the floating wind foundation sector and improving opportunities for offshore energy supply chains.
SUSTAINABLE WIND TURBINE DECOMMISSIONING PROJECT
This project will research, develop and demonstrate technologies that could ultimately lead to a commercially viable solution for cost-effective recycling and re-purposing of wind turbine blades.
POWERLINK PROJECT
A project to deliver a prototype AC/DC conversion technology that will reduce CO2 from ongoing activities, with a 10 times smaller carbon footprint and 5 times cheaper than existing conversion technologies.
UKCS SPECIFIC FLOATING WIND FOUNDATION COMPETITION
A competition to stimulate innovation in the floating wind foundation sector. Followed up with a design and demonstration of the successful technology that proves it can offer the lowest cost and highest manufacturing value to the UK.
POWER FROM SHORE CALL
A call to industry for innovative technologies to reduce the cost of power from shore, alongside a push to stimulate cross-operator projects.
UK OFFSHORE RENEWABLE SUPPLY CHAIN STUDY
A study that will build on previous work from ORE Catapult to identify a means to maximise the full potential of the UK supply chain in the production, installation and decommissioning of offshore renewables.
