ORE Catapult and NIWE Announce UK-India Offshore Wind Collaboration

They will work together on innovation and research and development, market and supply chain growth, new technology test and demonstration and skills programmes for offshore wind.

The two organisations are coming together at a critical stage for the establishment of offshore wind in India, and as offshore wind in the UK matures to one of the lowest cost forms of energy generation placing it as the heart of the green economy. The India-UK 2030 roadmap identifies that strengthening ties on clean energy research and projects to unlock India’s offshore wind potential in line with global climate change goals is essential.

Funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for scoping projects, facilitated collaborative technology and research engagement between ORE Catapult and NIWE, and the broader Indian renewable energy supply chain. This technical partnership will help unlock green affordable energy while helping boost the supply chain opportunities in India and the UK. The collaboration has been strongly supported and welcomed by both UK and Indian Governments.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “It is great to see the best minds from India and the UK collaborating on offshore wind. Our nations have a strong partnership on climate and this initiative is another step forward on the shared ambition on our Prime Ministers as set out in the 2030 Roadmap.”

Dr Stephen Wyatt, ORE Catapult’s Director, Strategy & Emerging Technology, said: “The UK has world-leading experience in the development of offshore wind, and in bringing innovation to bear on lowering costs and enhancing performance.  Bringing this expertise to the Indian market in partnership with NIWE and with the support of Innovate UK will bring growth in both India and the UK, enabling massive strides in each country’s journeys to achieving net zero”.

Dr Balaraman , NIWE’s Director General, said: “The potential for Offshore wind is huge in India considering the vast & contiguous coastline running 7600km, and this collaboration will be vital in the future development of offshore wind not only in India but for the Asia Pacific region as well.  We look forward to bringing together the strengths of our two organisations to accelerate progress towards clean affordable energy from offshore wind in Asia Pacific region and particularly in India. This cooperation, forged by the goodwill of both countries, will support the establishment of World class research and test facilities in India,  eventually fostering the development of the blue economy.”

One of the key initiatives as part of the collaboration will be a technical supply chain innovation analysis between the UK and India, supported by UKRI India. Other early programmes of activity between ORE Catapult and NIWE are expected to include: the development of technology demonstration infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, southern India; UK/India knowledge exchange and research collaboration to tackle the unique challenges of deploying offshore wind; supply chain growth programmes between UK and India, with particular focus on installation, balance of plant (i.e. equipment and infrastructure aside from the turbine) and Operations and Maintenance, and identification of cost-effective sites for early development of offshore wind in India.