UKRI funding boost for Scottish offshore wind research

Operating on the east coast of Scotland, Forth and Tay Offshore (FTO) is one of eight clusters set up to facilitate the UK’s ambitious offshore wind rollout. Alongside north Scotland’s DeepWind cluster – which is focusing on offshore opportunities in deeper waters - FTO will have a pivotal role in delivering the gigawatts of clean energy the UK will need to decarbonise the grid by 2030 and ultimately hit net zero. 

The research programme has seen FTO working with nearby universities Edinburgh and Dundee, aiming to address critical challenges in offshore wind technology. According to the partners, the new funding will allow them to build on significant successes to date as well as bolster the cluster’s supply chain, which features more than 500 SMEs.  

“This funding will enable us to push the boundaries of offshore wind technology, from improved design and engineering practices to enhanced environmental impact analysis.,” said Professor Alasdair McDonald, chair in Renewable Technologies at Edinburgh University.