OWIH in collaboration with industry and academia has built technology roadmaps – a register of industry challenges and ways to solve them. As a map, they contain information of where the sector is now, the destination and a network of paths that offer different ways of getting there. It creates a holistic view of the sector’s technology priorities as it tracks progress of distinct areas of innovation within each roadmap (Innovation Areas) and individual projects that support these Innovation Areas.
Each Innovation Area gives an answer on when and how this innovation would decrease costs, deliver benefits for UK and what type of organisation is going to deliver it. Scoring elements helps to maximise impact of Government spend thanks to allocating funds to projects agreed within the sector to be the most important and providing support to areas that need public intervention.
Innovation Areas have been divided into five segments: Electrical Infrastructure, Floating Wind, O&M and Windfarm Lifecycle, Substructures, Turbines.
What do the Innovation Roadmaps do?
- Provide government and industry with a single, validated source of information on the key challenges and innovation priorities within the UK offshore wind sector.
- Identify to innovators and the supply chain where there are potential market opportunities within the UK offshore wind sector.
- Provide funders and potential applicants with an evidence base for demonstrating the areas of the UK offshore wind sector that have a demand for innovation.
How are they populated?
The roadmaps build on previous innovation prioritisation work undertaken in the sector, such as the Cost Reduction Monitoring Framework. Based on this foundation, the Hub created a series of roadmaps which were tested with industry and academia through the Hub’s Technical Advisory Group.
How often are they updated?
The roadmaps will be updated at least every six months to ensure they continue to accurately reflect the needs of the UK offshore wind sector.
Explaining the Roadmaps
Each of the segments contains information divided into categories and subcategories. Categories in the table are coloured in white and can be expanded or collapsed using “+” and “-“ buttons or by clicking “Expand all fields” at the top of the column.
There are two types of entry in each roadmap:
- Innovation Area – A suggestion of innovation route for a technological, market or regulatory challenge. This type of entry is coloured in the table in grey.
- Ongoing R&D project – An existing project that aims to answer a challenge in offshore wind industry. In order to appear on the list, it had to be publicly announced and be of significant value. This type of entry is coloured in the table in light blue.
All roadmap information is accessible online and can be browsed in two ways: online by clicking on individual Innovation Areas; or by downloading spreadsheet using Download the roadmap data button located to the right of the table with data.
Each Innovation Area is described and scored in detail as per below. Please note that categories and subcategories are indicative only and do not include further details.
Forecast start and finish
When the significant progress in this area of innovation is expected to start and finish
Start and Target TRL
Technology Readiness Level at the start and end of innovation area at timescales provided above. Read more about TRLs.
EnablerTarget organisation likely to take a lead on this innovation area delivery
- Academia
- Catapult
- Industry/SMEs
- RTOs
BeneficiaryPart of the supply chain that would benefit from a solution in this innovation area
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- Owner Operators
- Other Suppliers
Requires implementation offshore
This innovation area requires implementation as part of an offshore project. It includes innovations that are part of the project itself (even if they are physically located onshore) but not those associated with a supply chain or standardisation.
This innovation area requires implementation as part of an offshore project. It includes innovations that are part of the project itself (even if they are physically located onshore) but not those associated with a supply chain or standardisation.
Strategic Outcome: One of 3 general strategic outcomes this innovation area can contribute to:
Enabling disruptive innovation
Commercialising >15MW turbine platforms
Maximising operational performance of existing wind farms