Norwegian Offshore Wind (NOW) has initiated a new crowdsourcing campaign with Wazoku, aiming to gather innovative approaches to managing emergencies on full-scale floating offshore wind turbines.
The challenge, titled "Floating Offshore Wind—Safe Solutions for Black Swan Events," marks the inaugural collaboration between NOW and Wazoku. It calls for solutions from sustainability start-ups that prioritise environmental and human safety, as well as the financial stability and operational efficiency of the offshore wind sector. Submissions are welcomed at any Technology Readiness Level (TRL), with a focus on those at TRL 4 (Proof of Concept) or higher. Solutions must demonstrate flexibility, scalability, compatibility with North Sea conditions, low maintenance, and longevity. Additionally, innovations with potential for cross-industry applicability and previous industry engagement will be viewed favourably. Importantly, solutions must ensure the safety of personnel, protect assets, and preserve the environment, without requiring physical transfers of offshore personnel to compromised structures. Success in the challenge will be gauged by the development of at least one solution that meets the majority, if not all, of the essential requirements.
This marks the inaugural challenge within the two-year NOW Accelerator, designed for start-ups and scale-ups in the offshore wind industry. The accelerator facilitates connections between promising ideas and industry stakeholders, mentors, partners, and investors. Å Energi and Corio Generation lead this challenge as programme members.
