Major partners join JIP to develop seabed mobility guidance for offshore renewables

Four new partners have joined the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s joint industry project (JIP) to develop seabed mobility guidance for the offshore renewable sector.

The 18-month project has doubled in number of partners, with National Grid, Ørsted, Vattenfall, and BP now joining RWE, Scottish Power Renewables, ESB, and SSE.

This collaboration tackles issues related to seabed mobility and establishing global standards for offshore wind and marine energy projects.

“As the offshore wind industry continues to expand globally, ORE Catapult is pleased to announce the progress of a critical Joint Industry Project (JIP) where our partners bring their expertise to understanding the impact of seabed changes,” said Malcolm Stirling, Project Manager at ORE Catapult. 

“Seabed mobility poses potential risks to renewable installations, including offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy projects, and the absence of a recognised industry approach to assess this risk underscores the importance of these guidelines. By addressing seabed mobility comprehensively, we anticipate significant cost reductions across diverse geographic locations, promoting the sustainability of offshore energy projects.”

The project, set for completion in spring 2025, has industry-leading partners collaborating closely with seabed mobility experts from Cooper Marine Advisors and Partrac.

“National Grid has a critical role to play in connecting cleaner, more secure, and more affordable energy to the grid. We are delighted to join this group of industry leading partners, which recognises the importance of coordination of expertise in all phases of delivery of wind and marine energy projects,” said Phil Payne, Marine Survey Manager at National Grid. 

ORE Catapult recently concluded a study with Imperial College London (ICL) which showed that tidal energy has the potential to provide 11.5 GW to the UK energy system, 11% of the UK’s electricity demand, and tidal stream projects could contribute up to £17 billion to the UK economy by 2050.

According to ORE Catapult, tidal stream improves the energy system’s resilience by diversifying renewable energy sources and tidal currents are consistent and predictable decades into the future, and can thus ensure a stable power supply during challenging weather, reducing reliance on imported gas or electricity.