A further four companies operating in the North of Tyne region have been selected to develop their innovative technologies as the latest round of funding from the Technology, Innovation and Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGGOR) programme takes its total regional investment to over £2 million.
The successful companies – TechnipFMC, FES International, Kinewell Energy, and Enshore Subsea – will receive a share of £800,000 in match funding made available through the second round of the TIGGOR programme’s technology demonstration strand. Last year, the programme awarded £1.5m across five companies for green technology development.
TIGGOR is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) as part of its wider Energy, Green Growth and Climate Change and delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.
The companies applied for support to accelerate innovative technology concepts in key areas such as dynamic subsea cable arrays, re-usable suction vent hatches for fixed and floating offshore wind farms and scanning for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Each company will work closely with ORE Catapult, as well as demonstrate their technologies to specialists at Equinor, joint venture partner and future operator of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and EDF Renewables, which owns and operates the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator wind farm.
A new open call has been launched for any organisations across the North of Tyne region wishing to apply.
Graham Smith, TIGGOR programme manager, said: “This funding award completes the second round of funding within the TIGGOR regional supply chain demonstration programme and provides excellent opportunities for local companies to access the fast-growing offshore renewables market.
“The programme, with strong industry engagement, demonstrates to wind farm developers highly innovative solutions with the ambition to increase UK local content in future developments.”
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, the North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Clean Energy and Connectivity and Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “The TIGGOR programme is already driving forward innovation, research and development here in the North of Tyne.
“With the ORE Catapult in Blyth we are leading the way in support both for our local businesses and in terms of attracting more companies here to the North of Tyne.
“This investment is a further opportunity to take advantage of a multi-billion pound industry emerging in the UK, placing ourselves right at the centre of the green energy revolution.”
Andrew Saunders, O&M Manager for Equinor at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “Equinor is delighted to continue acting as a Technical Advisor to the TIGGOR programme to facilitate innovative technology development in the North of Tyne region, and look forward to working closely with TechnipFMC, FES International, Kinewell Energy, and Enshore Subsea to provide technology and industry advice on how their solutions can be advanced to market in the offshore wind industry.
“Demonstration is vital in maturing ground-breaking technologies and the North of Tyne region, through TIGGOR, is becoming a hub for innovation in global offshore wind.”
