Nerth, a solutions provider to the marine and offshore industries, has secured funding from The Crown Estate to support the development of its project to create a dedicated servicing hub. Based at Pool Innovation Centre in Cornwall, the project allows Nerth to be strategically positioned in the South West for future Celtic Sea windfarm developments.
The funding from The Crown Estate was secured through its innovative Supply Chain Accelerator. Established in May, the Accelerator is a £50m fund created to accelerate and de-risk the early-stage development of UK supply chain projects that service the offshore wind sector.
Operating from Pool Innovation Centre, Nerth has provided trusted knowledge and expertise in commercial and marine engineering services for over a decade. With the funding, Nerth and consortium partners plan to co-locate innovative and carbon-reducing technologies with training facilities and offshore contracting services to deliver an integrated servicing solution for 4.5GW of wind capacity in the Celtic Sea. The project will aim to develop a strategic coastal hub for hundreds of long-term highly skilled jobs in the South West region.
Daniel Start, Owner & Director at Nerth, said:
“We’re delighted to be part of this pioneering programme. Collaboration and sustainability are integral to our long-term vision for the offshore servicing sector, and this initiative will enable us to put our philosophy into action. The Crown Estate has provided a fantastic opportunity for us to focus on future requirements of this exciting industrial challenge, developing a solution which will meet those demands head-on whilst prioritising local job creation, carbon reduction and lowering energy costs.”
Will Apps, Offshore Wind Strategy Director at The Crown Estate, said:
“It’s fantastic to announce the successful organisations receiving funding through our Supply Chain Accelerator. We’ve been encouraged by the level of interest the Accelerator has generated in the market and are delighted with the calibre and range of projects which we’ll be supporting.
The purpose of the Accelerator is to help grow and nurture the UK’s domestic supply chain, a crucial factor if the UK is to realise the potential of offshore wind in delivering its ambitious clean power and net zero goals, contributing to jobs and prosperity in communities across the UK.”
Matt Harrington, Head of Cornwall Innovation Centres added:
“It’s brilliant for such forward-thinking companies in Cornwall to be leading the charge on innovative developments, from our Innovation Centre in Pool. We’re looking forward to continuing our support for Nerth during the growth of this project, as the company continues to go from strength to strength.”
In early 2024, The Crown Estate published the Celtic Sea Blueprint which predicted that 5,300 jobs and a £1.4bn economic boost could be generated through deploying the first floating offshore wind capacity, that will result from the current Leasing Round 5 process, in the waters off South Wales and South-West England. The research highlighted a number of opportunities for supply chain growth essential for the development of these floating wind farms, including floating platform components; dynamic cables and connections; wet storage infrastructure and facilities; operations and management infrastructure and facilities; and skills transition facilities. The Crown Estate’s role is to create long-term value for the country, and it focuses on using the land and seabed it manages to help catalyse net zero, restore nature, create thriving communities and drive economic growth.