The first three winners under the second call of the Offshore Wind Component Technologies Development and Demonstration scheme have been announced. High Voltage Partial Discharge (HVPD), JDR Cable Systems and Principle Power (Europe) have been awarded a total of £2.3m (€2.7m), from the £5m second call.
HVPD's £545,000 will aid the development of an integrated offshore high voltage network management system. JDR's £1m award will be channelled towards the development of HVAC cables, while Principle Power's £0.7m will assist in the creation of new floating foundations.
Launched in May 2012, the scheme is a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Technology Strategy Board (TSB) initiative. It aims to encourage innovation in offshore wind. Energy and climate change minister, Greg Barker, said the funding would give the three companies "the boost they need to take their innovative designs to the next level, [and help to] cut costs in offshore wind generation".
Further winners of the second call and winners of the £7m third call will be announced later this year. A £4m fourth call has also been opened, the winners of which DECC hopes to announce by the end of 2013.
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