Floventis Energy will be hosting a discussion on the Fit 4 Offshore Renewable programme (F4OR) on Monday 6th November at 11.30am in room 4 at the ICC. Tess Blazey, Director of Policy and External Relations explains why test and demonstration sites are the critical path for enabling the supply chain to get fit for offshore.
The government has made it clear that floating offshore wind is central to their ambitions to decarbonise the UK’s electricity supply. That makes test and demonstration sites like Llŷr 1&2 the launch pad for this new industry. Without them, it simply won’t happen.
As a country, we need a Contracts for Difference (CfD) framework that is fit for the future if we are going to achieve energy security, affordability and decarbonisation set out in UK Government’s own strategy Powering Up Britain. We also need to establish a robust UK supply chain for offshore wind and renewables before the opportunity is lost.
Launched in September 2023 by Floventis Energy and The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the first Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme in Wales will give Welsh businesses the skills and expertise to deliver success in this rapidly growing sector. It is a specific development programme for the floating wind industry that has been designed by industry experts. We will provide technical and market insight for those participating.
The F4OR Wales programme will be delivered in phases starting in 2024, with an initial cohort of three companies. Applications are encouraged from firms with more than ten employees and/or have a turnover greater than £1 million, with products or skills that are relevant to the offshore wind sector. I’m pleased to say that we’ll be hosting a discussion on F4OR Wales at Future Energy Wales. Our Supply Chain Director Alex Gauntt be joined by Tim Pick of the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership before Mark Davies of Ledwood Mechanical Engineering and Ian Milne of Balmoral discuss their experience of the Fit 4 Nuclear and Fit 4 Offshore Wind programmes. Davood Sabaei of ORE Catapult will then discuss the Welsh programme in more detail. We’d love to see you there.
The opportunities that floating wind brings to the to the UK are enormous and it all starts with test and demonstration sites like Llŷr 1&2. Collectively, they represent 20% of the UK Government targets for floating wind and will give our industry the opportunity to de-risk technology and provide confidence to our supply chain.
Book your place at https://future-energy-wales-2023.reg.buzz to find out more. Use code FEWsupply23to get a discount of 50% on standard ticket prices.
Written by Tess Blazey, Director of Policy and External Relations