FLOWB is a strategic Floating Wind Supply Chain Acceleration Programme led by ORE Catapult in conjunction with Innovate UK.
ORE Catapult are working with NREL and University of Maine to advance UK and US collaborations on Floating Offshore Wind.
The UK is leading the floating wind industry through the first industrial scale project developments. The scale of this challenge also presents a huge export opportunity for the UK as other countries follow in our footsteps.
FLOWB is helping UK Entities to establish links and commercial opportunities in the United States and helping to accelerate the research and development phases of their Floating Offshore Wind supply chain technologies. The technologies developed will be vital to the Floating Offshore Wind supply chain in the UK, the United States and the rest of the world.
FLOWB is a £2.5 million programme and will provide £1.5 million of funding to UK Floating Offshore Wind supply chain companies to develop Innovative technologies and collaborate with NREL and the University of Maine.
ORE Catapult have identified four areas and project types that will be funded through the FLOWB 2024 funding call. These areas have been determined through collaboration with our US Partners, NREL and University of Maine. Our US partners are looking for Innovative UK entities that they can collaborate with to develop and advance their novel floating wind platforms. The projects proposed should look to develop the technologies through scaled testing activities in collaboration with one of the US partners. The specific themes are as follows:
ORE Catapult are interested in funding research and development into innovative technologies which can identify and predict the degradation of floating wind substructures, their mooring lines and dynamic cable solutions.
The technologies and innovations developed using FLOWB grant funding shall be able to maximise power outputs of light weight floating structures either through:
Projects may be focused on the mooring and anchoring systems for the VolturnUS+ and USFLOWT and/or innovative material which can be deployed in both UK and US waters. UK entities that are adapting mooring systems which are used in other industries (e.g. oil and gas) are encouraged to apply. Projects should be focused in areas around:
The manufacturing of concrete floating substructures could increase the local content and cost competitiveness of floating offshore wind developments in the UK. Similarly, the pre-assembly of turbines and floating substructures at quay sides are currently limited due to the port infrastructure both in the UK and US.
The University of Maine are planning the development, manufacturing, assembly and demonstration of the VolturnUS+ platform. Projects proposed in this specific theme should be aligned with the University of Maine through the development and testing of Innovative technologies at scale. Projects should be focused in the following areas:
Development of ‘next generation’ dynamic cables for floating offshore wind platforms. Projects may be focused on:
The funding call is now live. You can download the application documents here:
A date for a briefing webinar is yet to be set, please return back to this webpage or follow us on social media to be kept up to date with activity on the programme.
If you wish to be partnered with NREL or University of Maine for a grant application to FLOWB you should fill in the Expressions of Interest Form.
FLOWB is delighted to be supported and sponsored by:
