Ocean Winds unveils results of innovation challenges with Innovate UK to boost offshore wind farm efficiency

In collaboration with Innovate UK’s Innovation Exchange (iX), Ocean Winds, an international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and created as a 50-50 joint venture by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, has announced the outcomes of the iX challenges launched in September 2024. These challenges are part of Ocean Winds and Innovate UK’s commitment to delivering impactful solutions and driving meaningful change within the offshore wind sector and UK’s supply chain.

Challenges

Through this partnership, Ocean Winds aims to identify and implement solutions that will accelerate the development of our UK projects, including the Caledonia offshore wind farm, while also supporting our broader international portfolio of secured projects. The challenges were embraced across multiple departments within the company, all working toward the common goal of transforming innovative ideas into practical, real-world outcomes. These challenges were specifically designed to address industry needs, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and minimising the potential impacts of offshore wind farm infrastructure.

After reviewing numerous applications, Ocean Winds and the iX team conducted a thorough evaluation and pitching process to identify the most promising technologies. This thorough process aimed to identify the best applications that can answer the needs described in the challenges. The ultimate goals are to test and scale technologies, achieve the expected benefits, and support the growth of offshore wind projects. The collaboration between Ocean Winds and Innovate UK’s Innovation Exchange focuses on three key areas:

1. Metocean Measurement: Measuring atmospheric stability in remote marine locations. 23 applications were received, with 1 final selection.
2. Fixed Foundations: Autonomous subsea geophysical 3D characterisation for wind subsea surveys. 8 applications, 1 final selection.
3. Environmental:
   • Nature Inclusive Designs for Floating Wind Farms: 19 applications, 1 final selection.
   • Acquiring Ecological Data for Offshore Wind Farms: 29 applications, top 3 identified, but no final selection.

Outcomes

Launched in late 2024 through the iX platform, the challenges attracted numerous proposals, culminating in pitch days in January, which led to final selections for 4 challenges. This partnership aligns with Ocean Winds’ goal to validate, pilot, and scale selected technologies, accelerating the deployment of offshore wind farms. Ocean Winds is now working closely with the selected startups to launch pilot projects and foster collaborations that directly address the identified challenges and drive technological advancements.

As Daniel Santa Cruz, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Director at Ocean Winds, commented:

At Ocean Winds, we are driven by the opportunity to create impactful change in the offshore wind sector. We’re dedicated to delivering tangible results by collaborating with forward-thinking startups, and foster open innovation to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind farms. Together, we are building a future where innovation and collaboration pave the way for cleaner, more sustainable energy.

John Ransford, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Energy for Innovate UK Business Connect, at Innovate UK Business Connect, said:

Supporting Ocean Winds to help solve their industry challenges has been a fantastic opportunity to drive innovation in offshore wind. Through this partnership, we’ve identified and supported pioneering technologies that will help accelerate the development of offshore wind farms, improving efficiency and sustainability in the sector.

With the initial phase now complete, the focus shifts to piloting and scaling the selected innovations. As Ocean Winds and Innovate UK continue to work hand-in-hand with the chosen solution providers, the coming months will be crucial in demonstrating the real-world impact of these technologies. This collaboration marks just the beginning of a longer-term commitment to embedding innovation across the offshore wind sector—enhancing efficiency, strengthening the UK supply chain, and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.