European Marine Energy Centre has secured £3 million from UK Research and Innovation to advance DeepWind, its proposed national floating and deepwater wind test site. The two-year award, made through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, will fund engineering, environmental, regulatory and commercial work ahead of a planned 2030 delivery date. DeepWind is intended to give offshore wind developers access to plug-and-play infrastructure in representative metocean conditions. The project responds to the need to test turbines, floating structures, moorings and other components at full scale before commercial deployment in deeper UK waters.

Preparing DeepWind For Delivery

The funding will support work needed to reach Final Investment Decision, the point at which a project can formally proceed towards construction. It will also establish the technical, financial and governance foundations for the next development phase.

DeepWind has been designed around the conditions expected in future offshore wind developments. EMEC says existing European test sites do not offer the metocean conditions required by projects in the UK pipeline, creating a need for facilities that can assess technologies in energetic offshore environments.

Mark Hamilton, Operations & Technology Director at EMEC, said:

“This funding marks an important milestone in the development of DeepWind and provides the foundation for the next step towards establishing a national deepwater wind test site by 2030.

Full Scale Technology Testing

The proposed site would allow developers to test and validate deepwater and floating wind technologies before they enter commercial projects. Its plug-and-play approach is intended to reduce the time, cost and risk associated with research and development, while giving companies a route to demonstrate equipment under representative conditions.

Industry input has shaped the project’s development to date. EMEC is continuing to seek views from developers, supply chain businesses and other stakeholders so the facility reflects the requirements of the sector as deepwater wind projects progress.

Mark Hamilton, Operations & Technology Director at EMEC, said:

“Industry engagement has highlighted strong interest in access to full scale test and demonstration infrastructure to help de-risk deepwater wind technology ahead of commercial deployment. The support from UKRI will allow us to build on the work already underway and develop the technical, environmental and commercial evidence needed to deliver that infrastructure.

Building On Earlier Work

The new award follows feasibility studies, environmental assessments and industry engagement supported through The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator programme. This work identified technical requirements for DeepWind and potential locations with water depths and metocean conditions representative of future offshore wind developments.

EMEC has operated in Orkney since 2003 and has supported the testing of wave and tidal energy converters, as well as work across offshore energy, green hydrogen, e-fuels, clean transport and island decarbonisation. DeepWind applies that experience to floating and deepwater wind infrastructure at a point when offshore projects are expected to move into more demanding conditions.

Mark Hamilton, Operations & Technology Director at EMEC, said:

“EMEC has spent more than two decades supporting marine energy innovation, and DeepWind represents an important opportunity to apply that experience to the next generation of offshore wind technologies. By providing a route to full-scale testing in representative deepwater conditions, DeepWind will accelerate the progress toward insurability and bankability, strengthen UK supply chains and reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind innovation.”

Offshore Wind Opportunity

Independent analysis by BiGGAR Economics estimates that, if developed, DeepWind could contribute £690 million in gross value added to the UK economy and support 4,160 jobs over 25 years. The site’s purpose is to help developers gather the evidence required to progress technologies towards insurability and bankability, terms that refer to whether projects can obtain insurance and investment.

The award also reflects the role of research infrastructure in the UK’s clean energy plans. By supporting the work before Final Investment Decision, UKRI is helping EMEC assess the feasibility of a national deepwater wind testing capability rather than funding a completed facility.

Adam Staines, Infrastructure Portfolio Director at UKRI, said:

“At UKRI, we recognise that the UK’s critical transition to clean energy depends on having the right research and innovation infrastructures in place to develop and scale new and exciting technologies and create real world impact.”

Adam Staines, Infrastructure Portfolio Director at UKRI, said:

“EMEC has a proven track record of strengthening the UK’s clean energy ecosystem.

Adam Staines, Infrastructure Portfolio Director at UKRI, said:

“This DeepWind investment will enable EMEC to deliver exciting new activity needed to assess the feasibility of a national deepwater wind testing capability for the UK. This will have the potential to unlock new opportunities in offshore wind innovation.”