UK Manufacturing Technology for Next Generation Wind Turbines: Composites Phase 2

Concepts

• national composites centre
• research and development
• uk manufacturing technology
• composites phase
• offshore wind
• members of the uk catapult network
• next generation wind turbines
• offshore wind turbines
• potential phase
• offshore wind energy catapult

Location

United Kingdom: UNITED KINGDOM

Description

BEIS intends to appoint the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) to carry out the work described in Section II.2.4) below. OREC will work in close collaboration with the National Composites Centre (NCC) to deliver the scope of the project. OREC and NCC are members of the UK Catapult Network and are centres of excellence responsible for offshore wind and composite materials respectively. This collaboration is therefore a unique offering of all of the skills and capabilities needed to deliver this project.

Total Quantity or Scope

BEIS is procuring work under Phase 2 of the ‘UK Manufacturing Technology for Next Generation Wind Turbines’, to further explore incorporating radically new composite-based components and lightweight designs in 20MW+ offshore wind turbines. Scope of Phase 2 will build on the feasibility studies carried out by the Offshore Wind Energy Catapult (OREC) and the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Phase 1: -Develop a turbine design architecture to assess and prioritise the value of replacing components with alternatives using advanced composite materials and manufacturing techniques. -Provide detailed designs and specifications for the individual components that would require manufacture and testing in a potential Phase 3 Plus see 'additional information' below. Additional information: -Engage with the UK based supply chain to gather market intelligence, build market interest in a potential demonstration Phase 3, and identify barriers and develop solutions in design and manufacturing to deliver in a UK context -Integrate the findings and produce a business case containing evidence on the value of undertaking work in a potential demonstration Phase 3

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Legal Justification

BEIS was looking for a Delivery Partner (DP) with a number of characteristics, which would enable effective delivery of the scope of the programme. The DP is required to have deep technical expertise and operational knowledge in offshore wind and composite industries; ability to engage with the market and the supply chain in a neutral way; and lastly, make available to all bidders in potential Phase 3 the IP and all key information developed in Phase 2, and where BEIS reserves the right to exclude the DP from involvement in the potential demonstration Phase 3. While developing the business case for this programme, BEIS has considered various procurement route options. BEIS market analysis was informed by holding a market engagement event to seek market input. The technical challenge of this programme is to apply the innovation in both the design and manufacturing of composite components in areas of the wind turbine systems, which have historically not utilised composites. The BEIS market analysis has indicated that there is no single organisation able to deliver the niche yet demanding technical scope of Phase 2, it also showed evidence that a consortium of OREC/NCC has the technical capability to deliver Phase 2 and that a different DP would likely have to subcontract OREC/NCC services to deliver the programme. NCC is the UK’s leading authority on the design and manufacture of composite structures, OREC is the UK’s leading authority on offshore wind, including the component design, validation and supply chain growth of the industry. The combination of the NCC and OREC represents the key technology areas required to deliver the programme, combining composite and offshore wind design, manufacturing and supply chain knowledge. The partnership is actively working on other composites / offshore wind programmes and previously delivered Phase 1 of this programme to explore the viability of this project. As defined by UK Government, the role of Catapults it to engage with industry to drive and support adoption of new technologies. OREC/NCC are technology and solution agnostic, they work with full supply chain without ties to particular suppliers or manufacturers and they are not-for-profit. The justification for the Single Tender Action (STA) is therefore that competition is absent due to technical reasons, and to provide the combination of skills, integration and neutrality a STA to OREC/NCC, is the most suitable procurement route to achieve the objectives and outcomes of Phase 2 of the programme.

Other Information

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