Chris Huhne, secretary of state, will announce – in a speech at the launch of the International Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Perspective report – that grants worth a total of £10m will go towards developing offshore wind technology.
Here’s how it will be dished out:
£5m will go towards Siemens Wind Power, while £2m will be paid to JDR Cable Systems, who will use this money to develop high-voltage cables for the distribution of power from multi-megawatt turbines.
£1m will go to Converteam, who will build a full-scale test and technology demonstrator of its coveted DC conversion technology, and £256,250 will be given to Cooper Rolling Bearings, who will develop and demonstrate the use of split-bearing technology in large wind applications.
£300,000 has been awarded to South Boats Special Projects to develop an offshore wind farm support ship, and Blade Dynamics have been given £400,000 – which will be used to develop and demonstrate the use of modular turbine blast products.
Finally, MTL Group have been given £250,000, and NGentc – to develop a new 6MW generator – have been given £800,000.