Blackfish Engineering Awarded Funding to Drive Innovation in Floating Offshore Wind

Blackfish Engineering is delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding through the Scotland CAN DO Offshore Wind Innovation Feasibility Challenge Call. This funding, distributed by Scottish Enterprise, supports projects that address key innovation challenges within the offshore wind sector, strengthening Scotland’s supply chain and driving forward the transition to renewable energy.

Out of 69 applications, 22 projects were selected to receive funding, and we are proud to be among them. The grant funding ranges from £30,000 to £50,000 and will enable us to further develop marine operations for Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) through our C-Dart quick mooring connector.

Advancing Floating Offshore Wind Marine Operations

The C-Dart quick mooring connector is designed to improve the efficiency and safety of mooring operations for floating wind platforms. By streamlining the connection process, C-Dart has the potential to reduce installation times, lower operational costs, and enhance the overall reliability of offshore wind infrastructure.

C-Dart is part of a series of marine quick connectors being developed to enable the fast, repeatable, and reliable connection and disconnection of moorings in offshore renewable energy applications. Originally designed for the marine energy sector with support from Wave Energy Scotland, the C-Dart system is now being adapted and enhanced for use in floating offshore wind.

This project aligns with Blackfish’s commitment to delivering innovative engineering solutions for a sustainable future. With this support from Scottish Enterprise, we will continue to refine and validate our technology, working closely with industry partners like AJT Engineering, to accelerate the commercialisation of C-Dart and ensure its successful deployment.

A simulation of C-Dart’s MoorSafe application was conducted using the National Decommissioning Centre’s (NDC) 3D simulator, located in Aberdeen. This allowed for detailed testing of C-Dart’s capabilities in a controlled offshore environment.

The Scotland CAN DO Offshore Wind Innovation Feasibility Challenge Call is highly competitive, designed to drive forward cutting-edge innovation in the offshore wind industry. By providing vital funding for feasibility studies and early-stage developments, it enables companies like Blackfish to create breakthrough technologies that will support the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector and contribute to meeting the country’s renewable energy targets.

We extend our congratulations to all the other recipients of this funding and look forward to contributing to the continued growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector.

For more information on our work in offshore renewables, please get in touch.