The offshore wind market is set to be one of the biggest growth sectors in the UK. But with a target of 33GW by 2020, significant challenges need to be overcome in terms of cost, supply chain capacity and capability, and workforce expertise in challenging marine environments. The Northern Wind Innovation Programme is supporting businesses to develop solutions to address these challenges for the deployment of offshore wind turbines.

The Northern Wind Innovation Programme is a two year project funded through the Northern Way, running from April 2009 to March 2011, a unique partnership between the three northern Regional Development Agencies (Yorkshire Forward, Northwest Regional Development Agency and One Northeast). The delivery partners are Narec and Envirolink Northwest.

The programme aims to:

• Drive innovation in the offshore wind sector through provision of a £3 million research fund;
• Support businesses to access the offshore wind market, and in the development of new products and processes;
• Enable northern companies with capabilities or potential in the offshore wind sector to identify and realise these opportunities
• Increase knowledge transfer between academia and industry;
• Enhance the reputation of the North of England as an international centre of excellence for wind technology.