Teesside firm secures funding to develop wind turbine technology
T12 Engineering has received the grant from Scottish Enterprise to develop a technology that could cut installation times in half.
The floating mooring system is designed to simplify the deployment and maintenance of single spar floating wind turbines.
This will reduce weather-related delays and long-term operational costs.
The company, which has bases in Teesside, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, was one of just 22 selected for grant funding out of 69 applicants.
This was part of the Scottish Enterprise initiative to strengthen the country’s offshore wind supply chain.
Currently, floating wind turbines are assembled in sheltered waters and towed to offshore sites, where they are tethered to the seabed and connected to the electrical network.
This process is both time-consuming and weather sensitive.
T12 Engineering’s design allows these critical connections to be prepared in advance, enabling a faster, ‘plug and play’ installation once the turbine arrives on site.
The technology has global export potential, aligning with a growing pipeline of over 240GW in planned floating offshore wind projects worldwide.
T12 estimates that, over a typical 20-year lifecycle, its system could save up to £1.95 million in towing vessel costs per turbine under routine maintenance conditions.
Graham Melroy, a director at T12 Engineering, said: “Securing this funding is a major step forward for our team and a strong endorsement of the innovation behind our concept.
“Our aim is to make offshore wind turbines faster to deploy and easier to maintain, driving down costs, and improving reliability, creating economic opportunities in Scotland and beyond.”
Fellow director Andy Hughes, added: “We’re excited to be pushing the boundaries of offshore engineering with a concept that not only improves project efficiency but also has the potential to support global demand for clean energy.
“Collaboration with Scottish industry and academia is central to developing the system further.”