This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
SCORE FUNDING


£50,000 GRANTS FROM £6M OFFSHORE RENEWABLES GRANT FUND


The first companies have been awarded grants of up to £50,000 from a new £6m fund for making a difference in the cost-cutting drive in offshore renewables. Applications to the SCORE fund have been received from across England, with each company bidding for a share of the money to help develop their ideas, technologies and systems, designed to bring down the costs of offshore renewables.


It is hoped this SCORE (Supply Chain Innovation for Offshore Renewable Energy) fund with more than 200 jobs will be created, on top of the 111 by an earlier SCORE fund of £2.5m two years ago.


RECIPIENTS


The grant panel, meeting at the iconic offshore renewables hub OrbisEnergy overlooking the North Sea at Lowestoft, has so far made three awards of the largest grant of £50,000. The first recipient – described as one of the most exciting and promising cost- saving projects in offshore wind – said its grant offered it more than a much- needed cash injection for research and development. It also sent an important message to private investors that a project was worth backing.


GREENSPUR RENEWABLES


Andrew Hine of GreenSpur Renewables, awarded the first grant of £50,000 for its low cost direct drive permanent magnet generator using ferrites commented: “Achieving a SCORE award is seen as a form of technical validation. The business angel community is fully aware of OrbisEnergy and its technical competence. Being able to announce our first grant award in early 2014 enabled us to close our first round of seed funding very shortly after.” The grant application was simple and quick, with a guarantee that suitable applications would be presented to a grant panel for decision within 10 days.


BUSINESS & TECHNICAL SUPPORT


SCORE project manager Robert Bush commented: “Successful applicants will also receive business support from enterprise specialists Nwes to help


develop and grow their businesses and energy industry experts at Nautilus Associates, as well as technical support from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult,) leading renewable technology experts with world-class testing laboratories and facilities.


Companies have access to extensive business support from Nwes and one of its delivery partners, Nautilus, if more relevant to the company.”


MUCH MORE THAN A GRANT


“SCORE is about so much more than the grant. The expertise and technical support from ORE Catapult can be invaluable as well as Nwes business support.”


MOVING ON FROM OIL & GAS


Businesses that have served the 50-year- old oil & gas industry are invited to consider converting that expertise to the offshore renewables sector.


Greenspur’s Andrew Hine, Hugh-Peter Kelly


Rob continued “The East of England needs another industry to pin its colours to. We have the skills, we have the workforce and oil & gas can easily turn its hand to offshore wind.


“The oil & gas supply chain has a long and proven history of providing quality items for the offshore energy industry to a high standard with pressure to reduce costs.


“Companies have the knowledge and experience to diversify and move into offshore renewables at a time when the industry has been badly affected for two years and is continuing.


“SCORE is a fantastic opportunity for these companies and for the East to become firmly ensconced in offshore renewables and build a lasting legacy for companies across the supply chain.”


COUNTRYWIDE PROGRAMME


This SCORE programme has been rolled out to companies across England rather than just the East of England.


24


www.windenergynetwork.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116