The development of offshore wind in the Humber, opportunities for the supply chain and the region’s global potential will be in the spotlight at a leading conference this week.
Offshore Wind Connections 2022, hosted by Team Humber Marine Alliance, takes place from Wednesday, April 27 at The Spa, Bridlington, will see leading industry figures and organisations converging to discuss the future of the sector.
Three speakers from headline sponsor Ørsted will take to the podium to update the audience on its work, led by UK head Duncan Clark. It will including the completion of Hornsea Two - expected this summer - and the next projects in the zone currently in development.
Read more: Last chance to enter Humber Renewables Awards
They will explore the need for further rapid deployment over the coming years.
Delegates will also be connected by link to experts at IFP, a leading offshore wind conference in America which is taking place at the same time. Team Humber Marine Alliance has been developing relationships with the East Coast USA over the past decade, hosting inward and outward missions and helping members export their expertise.
The global connections continue with Len Taylor of Northern Powerhouse introducing senior representatives from the Department for International Trade who will speak on opportunities in Germany, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Closer to home, RWE’s Graham Wright, supply chain manager of Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, will outline the opportunities arising from the project and from the RWE Grimsby Hub.
Other high profile contributors include Ben George of ORE Catapult, Andy Reay of Associated British Ports, Andrew Elmes of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Neil Gordon of Global Underwater Hub and Richard Hall of RSM. Perspectives from the two local enterprise partnerships will be given by Stephen Parnaby and Pat Doody.
Deputy chief executive of national trade body RenewableUK and former Grimsby MP, Melanie Onn, will open the event,with Andrew Oliver, chair of Team Humber Marine Alliance.
Mr Oliver said that the conference continued to grow in stature alongside the Humber’s offshore wind sector. “It is vital that we collaborate as a region to play on our strengths, further develop our expertise, and find new ways to innovate and stay ahead in this booming industry sector.
“OWC 2022 provides an essential platform to enable this, and we want to thank each of our speakers and conference supporters who make it possible.”
As well as headline sponsorship from Ørsted, the platinum sponsors are ORE Catapult, Associated British Ports and RWE, with the maritime logistics sponsorship being provided by Kestrel. The gold sponsors are Carlbom Shipping, Andrew Jackson Solicitors and Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, and the silver sponsor is IRISNDT. RSM will once again support the conference through funding the networking drinks. Business Live is a media partner.
OWC 2022 is also being supported by the Department for international Trade and by RenewableUK which will host its popular Connect event on the evening of April 27. Grimsby Renewables Partnership, which announced last year that it will be merging with Team Humber Marine Alliance, is a conference partner, with the new entity set to be revealed at the two-day event.
The full list of speakers has been published on the website where tickets can also be purchased.
