Environmental services are of key importance to offshore wind - especially in the development phase when consenting decisions must be informed by actionable data.

The acquisition and analysis of data on wind, wave, seabed and marine-life is a real strength of the UK. Especially given the vibrant innovation in platforms, sensors and AI.

OWIC's IGP report recognizes this as a priority, noting the UK is already exporting expertise in environmental services. Celtic Sea FLOW offers a particular opportunity, as both a greenfield site and host to a number of companies excelling in this field.

The offshore wind industry faces a range of practical challenges which do not fall into distinct category of opportunity  "Logistics” will however be absolutely essential if more fixed and floating turbines is to be deployed and run smoothly at scale.

This is especially so in the Celtic Sea region which lacks mature infrastructure for offshore energy but will require a range of enabling expertise in:

- Haulage eg of aggregates

- Vessels

- Anchor storage

- Crew transfer

- Personnel provision

- Specialist Training

- Cranage

- Draft reduction technologies

- Wet storage

Many of these services are likely to require local know-how and may even provide a strong starting point for ambitious companies to expand into this new market. Not easy to evaluate but there is high potential for regional economic benefit to be derived in logistical and operational services to enable FLOW.

Electrical systems for offshore wind includes array, offshore and onshore export cables, electrical systems and SCADA design.

OWIC's Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan has prioritised dynamic cable manufacture for the UK to 'make’. Significant capability exists in the UK but the sheer scale presents a capacity challenge.

 Inter-array cables for floating wind in the Celtic Sea alone will require as much as 41km of dynamic and 515km static cables - and require 3-6 cable-laying vessels.

The potential for UK companies to scale-up existing capability is clear. To do so will require close-working with ports and shoreside facilities at an early stage.  Major investment is needed (30-50m according to the IGP) and the twin risks, of demand and timing in a speculative market, under-written.