The drive to reduce the cost of offshore wind energy in the UK has continued with the announcement of £2.5 million of government funds to support technology research and innovation.
The funds will be divided among four projects and form a key part of government plans to help the UK maintain its position in the world offshore wind energy market.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey announced the funding award at the Renewable UK conference in Birmingham, a day after announcing £5 million of funding for innovation in energy storage.
According to Davey, the UK's renewable energy capacity has increased by more than 40 per cent since 2012 and the country is half way to meeting its 2020 renewable energy goals.
A total of £634 980 has been awarded to Ricardo UK Ltd to develop and demonstrate its offshore wind drivetrain technologies, while TetraFloat Ltd has been awarded £134 000 to validate and improve a floating platform design.
Blade Dynamics has bee awarded £842 630 design, evaluate, build and test an innovative composite wind turbine hub, and SSE Renewables won £1 million for its national offshore wind turbine test facility project.
Davey continued: "Investment in innovation now will improve the affordability of the technologies we deploy in the future; reduce bills for households and businesses; and strengthen energy security by offering a range of technology options for the UK to deploy.
"Successful innovation could save the UK up to £160 billion in energy supply costs to 2050 and contribute up to £89 billion to the UK economy over the same period."
On 4 November REDT and Moixa Technology were awarded a share of over £5 million under the UK government's energy storage research and demonstration competition.
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