Arup plays central role in UK floating offshore wind funding scheme

Winning submissions were recently announced by DESNZ and represents an important milestone to develop the necessary port infrastructure to realise the potential of floating offshore wind in the UK.

As technical advisor to DESNZ, Arup has played a key role in providing the analysis to underpin the decision making for the scheme. 

Utilising Arup’s extensive experience supporting developers and ports with planning and delivering infrastructure and logistics for the construction of offshore wind projects including for Scottish Power, NaREC, Siemens Gamesa, SeAH or Ardesier Port, the firm carried out an in-depth technical review of the applications including the capability of the projects to provide infrastructure for floating wind foundation assembly or manufacturing, and turbine integration. 

Arup also assessed the robustness of technical aspects of the applications, such as project planning and delivery offering, including design and procurement and risk management capabilities, ensuring projects make the best use of FLOWMIS to mature port infrastructure and enable floating offshore wind installation targets.  

Recently, the government announced up to £160 million in grant funding for certain investments in the floating offshore wind sector. Potential benefits of FLOWMIS to the UK economy include: 

• enabling the delivery of the UK’s 5GW 2030 deployment ambition by securing additional suitable port capacity necessary to scale up and accelerate floating offshore wind deployment;  

• increasing capability in the UK floating offshore wind supply chain, driving cost reduction and the commercialisation of floating offshore wind technology; 

• delivering industrial growth and associated regional economic and social benefits. 

Arup is dedicated to accelerating decarbonisation and realising the net-zero energy transition. This includes providing advisory services to government bodies, lenders, investors and research centres. In the UK, examples include Crown Estate Scotland’s Scot wind leasing round and Strategic Investment Model (SIM) programme, in addition to the Celtic Sea Round Tender schemes.