Programme objectives & anticipated effects
Aims of the scheme
The scheme aimed to stimulate and encourage the development and demonstration of offshore wind technologies or components for larger multi-MW turbines to enable their faster deployment within the 2020 timescales.
The primary objectives where to:
- (i) Demonstrate components for large/next generation offshore wind turbines or associated technology
- (ii) Provide a learning experience which can improve confidence and help reduce future costs
- (iii) Underpin development of the industry by stimulating the UK equipment supply chain
- (iv) Produce in a clear, transparent and unambiguous report, an economic evaluation of all projects supported by the scheme, whilst maintaining the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information and protecting any IP gained before and/or from the project.
Inputs
£27,806,984 of capital grants to support 13 companies for 16 offshore wind technology development projects involving some Industrial Research but mainly Experimental Development and Demonstration. Awarded following three competitive calls for proposals.
Funding ran until 31st March 2011 except for three projects in the first Call which ran until 31st March 2012.
The level of project support ranges from £250,000 to £5,000,000.
Outputs
The 17 projects have a variety of outputs commensurate with development and demonstration of offshore wind technologies or components; delivery of these outputs is verified by DECC and technical advisors working on DECC’s behalf, and is required in order for funding to be disbursed.
Specific technical milestones and outputs are defined related to each of the technologies or components supported.
The Scheme has been administered under the European Commission General Block Exemption Regulations’ (GBER)
The Offshore Wind Environmental Transformation Fund was a scheme notified under the EC's General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), State Aid reference no: X605/2009.
1st Offshore Wind Demonstration Call
On 29 May 2009, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched the first call for proposal for capital grant funding for component/technology development in the offshore wind sector. The call closed on 3 July 2009 with a total of £10m awarded to:
- Artemis – to develop a new hydraulic transmission system for larger offshore turbines
- Clipper – to develop their 72m offshore blade for a 10MW offshore*
- Siemens – to develop a new power convertor for their next generation offshore turbine
- Vestas – next generation offshore wind turbine blade, performance testing and development programme
ETF 1 – Call for Proposals [PDF, 97Kb]
ETF 1 – guidance notes [PDF, 102Kb]
2nd Offshore Wind Demonstration Call
A second call was launched on 27 July 2009. This call closed on 28 August 2009 with grants totalling £13m awarded to:
- Burntisland Fabrications – to develop advanced manufacturing for a jacket foundation
- Clipper – to develop a new gearbox design for use in 10MW offshore turbines*
- Mitsubishi – to develop design and supply chain capability for a new design of offshore turbine
- Teeside Alliance Group – to develop advanced manufacturing processes for monopile foundations
- Siemens – to develop a new power convertor for their next generation offshore turbine
- Vestas – automated blade manufacture
ETF 2 – Call for Proposals [PDF, 80Kb]
ETF 2 – guidance notes [PDF, 85Kb]
3rd Offshore Wind Demonstration Call
A third call for proposals under the ETF scheme was launched on 18 February 2010 following the success of the first two calls under the ETF Scheme.
This call closed on 31 March 2010 with grants totalling £5m awarded to:
- Blade Dynamics – to design, develop and construct three wind turbine blades
- Converteam – for Direct Current Wind Power Generation
- JDR Cables – for high-voltage export and array cables for distribution of power from next generation, multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines
- MTL Group – to develop increased supply of jacket and monopole sub-assemblies
- NGenTec – to design, build and test a 1MW C-GEN generator to form part of a 6MW generator for offshore wind
- South Boats – for modular design of offshore wind farm support vessels
- Cooper Roller Bearings Ltd *
ETF 3 - Call for Proposals [PDF, 128Kb]
ETF 3 - guidance notes [PDF, 92Kb]
* grant was withdrawn
DECC will be conducting a full evaluation of all completed projects. Details of the evaluations will be posted on this web page.
For information regarding all three calls, please contact allan.taylor@decc.gsi.gov.uk