Organisations active in supporting floating offshore wind
Several organisations provide useful resources to learn more about the floating offshore wind industry, including the following research organisations, trade associations and government departments:
UK
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult)
The ORE Catapult is playing a leading role in stimulating innovation in offshore wind. It established the Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence, a collaborative programme with industry and academic partners that aims to accelerate the development of floating offshore wind in the UK.
The ORE Catapult and the Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence produce reports on floating offshore wind technology, supply chain and markets.
For more information visit https://ore.catapult.org.uk.
ORE Catapult, together with the Crown Estate, published a related document to this one called “A Guide to an Offshore Wind Farm” for fixed offshore projects. For more information visit https://guidetoanoffshorewindfarm.com/.
The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate manages the sea bed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It coordinates the offshore wind sea bed leasing rounds in these areas.
For more information visit www.thecrownestate.co.uk.
Crown Estate Scotland
Crown Estate Scotland manages the sea bed around Scotland. It coordinates the offshore wind sea bed leasing rounds in Scotland.
For more information visit www.crownestatescotland.com.
RenewableUK
RenewableUK is the leading trade association representing offshore wind energy companies in the UK. Among its wide-ranging activities is its work on helping the industry meet its requirements for a skilled workforce.
For more information visit www.renewableuk.com.
Scottish Renewables
Scottish Renewables is the trade association that represents the renewable energy industries in Scotland.
For more information visit www.scottishrenewables.com/.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
DESNZ is the UK Government department responsible for facilitating the deployment of offshore wind and delivering the UK’s wider energy and net zero policies.
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero
Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is an organisation that advises businesses, governments and other organisations on sustainable technologies and issues. It runs the Floating Wind Joint Industry Project (Floating Wind JIP), a collaborative research and development initiative between leading offshore wind stakeholders to accelerate the development of floating offshore wind.
The Floating Wind JIP deliver projects and reports that aim to facilitate technology development and advance commercialisation of the floating offshore wind industry.
For more information visit www.carbontrust.com/our-projects/floating-wind-joint-industry-programme-jip.
Corewind
Corewind is an EU-funded collaboration between industry stakeholders taking place 2019-2023. It is developing research, modelling and optimisation for concrete-based semi-submersible and spar floating structures concepts and is publishing its findings. For more information visit http://corewind.eu/.
World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO)
The WFO is a collaborative organisation that represents the offshore wind industry. It consists of a range of different stakeholders. The WFO runs the Floating Offshore Wind Committee, a forum dedicated to advancing the global floating offshore wind industry. The WFO produces reports on floating offshore wind technology, supply chain and markets.
For more information visit https://wfo-global.org/.
Flagship
Flagship is a Horizon 2020 research project that aims to reduce the cost of floating offshore wind through designing and building a 10 MW floating offshore wind turbine using a concrete semi-submersible platform. It includes several major offshore wind industry stakeholders.
For more information visit www.flagshiproject.eu/.
NextFloat
NextFloat is a research programme aimed at accelerating the industrialisation of floating offshore wind. The programme consists of a consortium of ten international stakeholders and received funding from the European Commission.
Japan
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
METI is the ministry of the Japanese Government responsible for the economic and industrial development of the country. This includes energy policy. The Wind Policy Office within METI is largely responsible for matters related to offshore wind. METI has been central in developing the laws that legislate for offshore wind deployment, defining the Vision for Offshore Wind Power Industry which set the national offshore wind target and administering the promotion system and auction process to award project sites. It is developing the legislation to allow floating offshore wind projects to be deployed within Japan’s EEZ.
For more information visit https://www.meti.go.jp/english/
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
MLIT is the ministry of the Japanese Government responsible for land, transportation, infrastructure development and security of Japanese waters. The Ports and Harbours Bureau within MLIT is largely involved with the promotion system and auction process alongside METI’s Wind Policy Office.
For more information visit https://www.mlit.go.jp/en/
Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA)
JWPA is the national trade association for the wind power industry in Japan. It is responsible for representing the interest of its more than 500 member companies at a government level to create a positive policy environment for the domestic wind industry. It has also established and administered various working groups to address key barriers facing offshore wind in Japan and was the industry representative on the Public-Price Council.
For more information visit https://jwpa.jp/en/
Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA)
FLOWRA is an industry association created to enable large-scale commercialisation of floating offshore wind in Japan. It is composed of 20 Japanese member companies. It aims to develop floating offshore wind technology by undertaking research to reduce costs and mitigate risks. It also seeks to align with overseas organisations for international standardisation of technical systems, and to promote information exchange and collaborative research to foster the growth of the wider industry.
For more information visit https://flowra.or.jp/en/
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO)
NEDO is a national research and development agency that promotes the technological development needed to realise a sustainable society. It supports floating offshore wind by funding research, development, and demonstration projects. NEDO also fosters partnerships with private sectors, helping establish Japan as a leader in floating offshore wind, aiming for commercial-scale deployment by the 2030s.
For more information visit https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/
Renewable Energy Institute (REI)
REI is a non-profit organization focused on promoting renewable energy adoption and sustainability. It supports floating offshore wind by conducting research, policy advocacy and promoting industry collaboration. REI has played role in advancing floating wind in Japan by producing reports and technical studies, including Recommendations for Accelerating the Commercialization of Floating Offshore Wind Power.
For more information visit https://www.renewable-ei.org/en/
Maritime Bureau (MLIT)
The Maritime Bureau, part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), is responsible for policies and regulations related to vessels and maritime structures in Japan. In the context of offshore wind, it plays a key role in overseeing safety standards and regulatory frameworks for vessels and floating substructures, including those used in floating offshore wind projects. The Bureau ensures that marine operations meet national and international standards, supporting the safe and effective deployment of offshore wind infrastructure.
For more information visit https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/
South Korea
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)
MOTIE is a South Korean government agency responsible for the country’s offshore wind strategy. In 2024, it released a roadmap for developing offshore wind focusing on the competitive bidding process and frameworks for project approvals. To further encourage investments and development, the roadmap announced the creation of separate bidding markets for fixed and floating wind projects.
For more information visit: https://www.motie.go.kr/
Korean Energy Agency (KEA)
KEA is a government agency that promotes energy efficiency and facilitates the deployment of renewable energy. It supports the development of policy and provides technical research to advance the development of offshore wind technology.
For more information visit: https://www.energy.or.kr/en/main/main.do
New & Renewable Energy Centre (NREC)
NREC is a part of KEA and is responsible for managing the auction systems for offshore wind projects and the trading market for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER)
KIER is a government funded research institute responsible for energy research activities. It plays a crucial role in driving research and innovation initiatives for floating offshore wind.
For more information visit: https://www.kier.re.kr/eng
Korea Wind Energy Industry Association (KWEIA)
KWEIA is a trade association that pools industry, local government, public institutions and academia together in Korea. The association seeks to collaborate with various stakeholders and foster international partnerships to sustainably develop the offshore wind energy industry
For more information visit; http://www.kweia.or.kr/
The Korean Society for New and Renewable Energy (KSNRE)
KNREA is a professional association that advocates for the development and adoption of renewable energy sources in South Korea. The association organises conferences, seminars and workshops that serve as platforms to present research and discuss latest developments in floating wind technology.
For more information visit: https://www.ksnre.or.kr/eng/