RWE and ORE Catapult to study production of concrete floaters in Scotland

RWE has partnered with Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult to study the potential for Scottish businesses to produce commercial-scale concrete foundations for floating wind projects.

The study will identify key manufacturing and fabrication methodologies and constituent materials required to produce concrete substructures.

In addition, it will assess the existing Scottish supply chain capability and capacity to deliver such concrete substructures into a utility-scale floating offshore wind project.

The study will be carried out by ORE Catapult’s Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence to understand the scale of this potential and how it might be unlocked.

A summary of the work will be published upon completion of the research in mid-2021.

“Floating Wind could play an important part of the growth in offshore wind and has the potential to unlock new offshore wind markets around the world,” said Chris Willow, Head of Floating Wind for RWE Renewables.

“Concrete floating foundations have the potential to support Scottish projects and create local supply chain content, building on the country’s engineering legacy for a new generation of Scottish engineers.”