Trade and Development body, Global Underwater Hub (GUH), has made a clear case for the need for strategic government support for the underwater industry, which they believe will deliver the emerging floating offshore wind opportunity, valued at approximately £270 billion domestically, with an export market in the region of £1 trillion.

GUH represent the UK's £9.2 billion underwater industry and wants to ensure the UK is well positioned to develop the next generation of floating offshore technology, delivering thousands of jobs and securing the UK as a global industry leader. Undersea cables, moorings and anchor systems are critical to deliver floating offshore wind. The UK underwater industry is strong in manufacturing and assembling the range of materials required for these complex systems and facing the challenges of installing, operating and maintaining projects in difficult conditions and within deepwater.

Neil Gordon, CEO of GUH, explains that they have made a clear case to the Government as to why the underwater industry is paramount and why investment in this market should be a priority. Unlike fixed offshore structures in shallow waters, where large parts of manufacture and fabrication are now overseas, floating offshore wind is a nascent technology location in more challenging environments. It's one in which the UK has created a competitive advantage, with years of offshore experience and the technology combined with the expertise in installing, operating and maintaining undersea cabling, mooring and anchoring systems. The underwater industry is one Neil Gordon believes the UK can be a global leader.

The scale of proposed plans for offshore wind means it's one of the biggest opportunities for many years, but if the UK underwater sector cannot meet the demands for subsea technology and services due to minimal investment, other nations will take the lead in innovation and expertise.

The UK has a significant opportunity to deliver thousands of green jobs, shifting oil and gas positions into renewables, building critical infrastructure and securing export orders. By prioritising and investing in the UK’s underwater industry, we can accelerate the transition of oil and gas supply chains and solidify the UK’s position as an international industry leader. This will secure our energy supplies and protect underwater energy and communications infrastructure.

In response to Invest 2035, the government’s industrial strategy consultation, GUH delivered what criteria the underwater industry needs to take full advantage of the opportunities within floating offshore wind and to maximise the economic value for the nation. Securing project confidence, accelerated and less complex consenting, and investing in R&D, port infrastructure and grid capacity are considered some of the focus areas.

Gordon highlights that the UK has the capability but not the capacity to meet the demand that comes with scaling offshore wind projects. Gordon also believes we lack the confidence to recognise when and where to invest due to unclear timelines for these projects. A clear pipeline, with efficient and enhanced consenting, is required to drive investment that will enable the supply chain to adapt and scale. The underwater industry is ready to support the UK in achieving its clean energy goals and strengthening its value, but recognising its strategic importance and prioritising investment from the government is critical. The key requests presented by GUH include:
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-The scale of floating offshore wind is significant, and there is a need to invest in research, development and innovation. Further support and investment are required to enhance academic research to support new technology and enable early-stage companies to scale. 
-Innovation funding is needed to develop cables and electrical systems, foundations and anchoring systems, and innovative installation, operation and maintenance systems applying AI and Machine Learning. Investment in digital technology should focus on developing and adopting remote solutions, data collection, remote operations and protection against cyber attacks.
-Investment in port infrastructure is critical for floating offshore wind, which requires significant, deep water ports. The UK currently has very few ports capable of supporting cable manufacturing and construction assembly and integration of floating offshore wind. Delivering the necessary upgrades will need investment and time ahead of project construction. 
-Major upgrades and reinforcements are required for the grid to accept the significant increase in energy from offshore renewables wind and produce revenues for investors.

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