Despite Covid-19’s grim effects on many industries, the orders for the global offshore wind industry have increased dramatically in the first half of 2020, totalling US$35 billion (£26bn), up 319% on 2019. Although this already makes it the fastest-growing industry in the world, it seems likely to be only the start of an extraordinary boom in a business that is still improving its technology, and because of that the prices for the electricity it produces are tumbling. Europe was a pioneer of the industry, since its many square kilometres of shallow sea in the continental shelf meant there were many locations ideal for driving piles into the seabed to anchor the turbines, which happily were close to markets in major coastal cities. As the technology has improved, so the size of the turbines being installed has increased, now reaching 10 megawatts (MW) and heading soon for 12.

Climate News Network 12th Aug 2020 read more »

Aberdeen’s Xodus to front floating wind farm project involving Scottish universities. Global energy consultancy Xodus Group has launched a three-year collaborative research project in partnership with three universities to try and drive down the costs of floating wind farms.

Scotsman 13th Aug 2020 read more »

BATTERY pioneer Sunamp has secured multi-million pound backing from international investors amid the challenges posed for energy sector businesses by the coronavirus crisis. East Lothian-based Sunamp raised £4.5 million in a funding round that will position the firm to capitalise on growth opportunities in global markets.

Herald 11th Aug 2020 read more »

Hydrogen could be worth as much as £18bn to the UK economy by 2035, according to a landmark new report. The Economic Impact Assessment carried out by the Hydrogen Taskforce analyses the benefits the superfuel could generate through the supply chain and end usage. The research predicts 11.3 TWh (terawatt hours) of hydrogen will be needed to maintain heat, transport, power and industry by 2035. Of this annual demand, 20% could be met by green hydrogen through electrolysis and 80% by blue hydrogen, including carbon capture utilization and storage. That could lead to the creation of 28,000 jobs in hydrogen production, 15,000 in transmission, distribution and storage infrastructure and a further 31,000 jobs across different end uses, contributing £18bn to the UK economy.

Energy Voice 13th Aug 2020 read more »

TIDAL energy specialist Orbital Marine Power has finished work on a testing programme which it reckons has underlined the potential of its floating turbine technology. The Orkney-based company said the performance of its SR 2000 floating turbine in tests off the islands had raised the bar for firms operating in the wave and tidal energy sector, for which Scotland has great hopes.

Herald 13th Aug 2020 read more »

Cardiff and Bridgend are the first councils in Wales to be awarded funding from the government’s £320m HNIP scheme to accelerate the development of district heating networks. Plans to develop heat networks in Cardiff and Bridgend took a major step forward today, after being awarded £8m from the government’s Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP) fund. The district heating schemes are set to transition hundreds of buildings across the two metropolitan areas away from fossil fuel heating, slashing bills for consumers and generating signficant carbon reductions.

Business Green 13th Aug 2020 read more »

Projects to develop a net zero transport supercluster in the Midlands, heat Glasgow homes using heat from abandoned mines, and turbocharge offshore wind farm construction in the South West are among the winners of the latest round of research and development funding announced by the UK government today. The 17 research projects selected by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will receive up to £50,000 each and will be able to apply for a further £10m to £50m of long-term investment from the agency’s ‘Strength in Places Fund’ later this year if early-stage development proves successful.

Business Green 11th Aug 2020 read more »

The Government has awarded R&D funding packages to a string of projects which could assist the transition to net-zero, including floating wind farms in the South West, innovative heat recovery systems in Glasgow and a low-carbon transport cluster in the Midlands.

Edie 11th Aug 2020 read more »

A vision to make the Westcountry a clean energy powerhouse and world leader in the marine sector took a leap forward today as a pioneering offshore wind farm project was shortlisted for Government funding. Plans for a floating wind farm off the South West coast, which would generate clean power and create thousands of green jobs, are in the running for over £30 million of potential government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund. The proposed South West Floating Offshore Wind Accelerator (pictured) has been chosen to work up a detailed bid after today receiving £50,000 of early-stage funding following a successful stage one application.

Cornwall Live 11th Aug 2020 read more »

Cornish Stuff 11th Aug 2020 read more »

The first export power cable for the 950 MW Moray East offshore wind project has made landfall at Inverboyndie, Scotland, Moray Offshore Windfarm (East) Ltd said.

Offshore Energy 11th Aug 2020 read more »

Ritchie Bland Energy Limited and Harmony Energy have set their sights on a new 49.5MW solar site in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire. If approved by the council, the site will cover 150 hectares with 80 hectares utilised for solar panels and ancillary development. The site will likely use an existing Northern Power Grid substation on the land, which is currently used for agricultural purposes.

Solar Power Portal 11th Aug 2020 read more »