Shell Joins Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator

The Carbon Trust has announced that Shell Global Solutions International BV has officially joined the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA), the Carbon Trust’s collaborative RD&D programme, further demonstrating its commitment to the energy transition.

The OWA is a joint initiative set up by the Carbon Trust in 2008, which is dedicated to reducing the cost of energy from offshore wind. Shell will now join the roster of existing partners that includes EnBW, E.ON, Equinor, innogy SE, Ørsted, ScottishPowerRenewables/Iberdrola, SSE Renewables and Vattenfall Wind Power.

The OWA is structured around five research areas: Access Systems; Cable Installation, Electrical Systems; Wake Effects and Wind Resource; and Foundations.

Dorine Bosman, VP Wind Development, Shell commented, “The Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator is a good example of the collaboration required between public and private sectors. The research and development programme will be key to delivering technical, commercial and financial innovations for large scale and sustainable offshore wind opportunities in the future.”

Jan Matthiesen, Director, Carbon Trust commented, “It is great news for the programme to have yet another strong and ambitious partner on board. It demonstrates that the collaborative approach to RD&D in offshore wind is valued by the industry.”

A recent example of a project led by the OWA is Fistuca’s BLUE Hammer demonstration project, which reduces noise during construction as well as delivering a reduction in cost.

The core programme is part funded by the Scottish Government with the remaining funding coming from industry partners.