Episode 1: Business Opportunity of the Century

In first episode of the series, Stephanie Mann, Innovation Manager at ORE Catapult, spoke to three company CEOs who have moved their businesses into the UK's fast-growing offshore wind sector. They share their stories of breaking into the market, pitching ideas to wind industry giants, tackling 'innovation inertia' and outline the newest opportunities for forward-thinking entrepreneurs. Could you also capitalise on this business opportunity of the century? James Barry is CEO of Renewable Parts, which started up in Scotland in 2011 seeing a gap in the market for sustainable supply of replacement parts to wind turbines. By refurbishing old parts, the company has reduced environmental impact and provided the most cost-effective solution to industry. The company is now one of the leading suppliers of parts for wind turbines in the UK, an independent supply chain specialist providing worldwide delivery and a champion for improving recycling rates in the wind industry. They have forged successful academic and industry collaborations with Strathclyde University and Scotland’s Energy Technology Partnership (ETP). Working with the ETP, Renewable Parts developed original and innovative remanufacture, reconditioning and refurbishment processes for the wind sector. www.renewable-parts.com | @RenewableParts Mark Lawless is CEO of JBA Consulting, an environmental, engineering and risk group that was founded in 1995 and has since grown to be one of Europe’s leading specialists in environmental engineering and management. They have conducted major studies for national governments and international bodies such as the European Investment Bank, European Commission, Defra and the Environment Agency. JBA’s Metocean Risk Management team has developed a range of advanced techniques for metocean forecasting and planning which are provided through its proprietary software ForeCoast Marine. The tools enable operators to understand and manage the harsh and often extreme conditions offshore, helping them to reduce the impact on lifetime cost of energy and associated health and safety risks. www.jbaconsulting.com | @JBAConsulting Stephanie Mann is an Innovation Manager in ORE Catapult’s Research and Disruptive Innovation Department. She has a particular interest in novel technologies that could potentially disrupt the renewable energy sector. Prior to joining the Catapult, Stephanie came to the end of a four-year EngD with the Industrial Doctoral Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (Idcore), working especially with novel wind in the data science team at E.ON. She is completing her thesis on yield methodologies and resource assessment for airborne wind. Through her time at the Catapult, she has used her technical skills and industry contacts to scope possible future collaborations between SMEs, industry and academia. She specializes in space applications for the offshore wind industry. See: www.ore.catapult.org.uk or @ORECatapult. She also recently launched her own science channel 'Are Cats Liquid and other science questions': https://www.youtube.com/sciencewithsteph Kenny Wiggins is Chairman of Span Access Solutions based in Kinross and Methil, Scotland, is a specialist in alternative access and working at height solutions for the oil and gas, civil engineering, and most recently, offshore wind sector. Kenny’s team are currently working with ORE Catapult on a £830k Innovate UK-backed project BASE (Blade Access System and Working Environment) that will develop a tower-mounted blade access system and habitat to provide a stable working environment for technicians. Cost modelling performed by ORE Catapult estimates that the technology has the potential to reduce the levelized cost of energy by 0.6 per cent, or £1.05 billion across the European offshore wind fleet. www.spanaccess.co.uk | @Spanaccess