UK launches Offshore Wind Investment Organisation

The UK government has established the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation (OWIO).  The industry/government partnership is charged with boosting investment and job creation in offshore wind.

Business and energy minister Michael Fallon announced its creation today at Renewable UK’s Offshore Wind 2013 in Manchester.

Fallon said the body will complement the work of the government’s business, industry and skills (BIS) and energy and climate change (DECC) departments. "The real value will be in the long-term partnership between industry and government," he said.

He also announced three innovation projects the government is supporting. Power Cable Services will receive £540,000 to help its high-voltage subsea cable technology project. Aquasium Technology and its partners, Burntisland Fabrications and TWI, have been awarded a grant of £769,600 to develop their cost-effective fabrication techniques. And Wind Technologies is getting £728,355 to design and manufacture a new 5MW turbine drive mechanism.