Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
ORE Catapult is the UK's national technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, operating eight UK facilities that provide accredited testing, validation, research, and engineering services to OEMs, developers, supply chain companies, government, and academia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult does
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult) is the UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, established in 2013 as part of Innovate UK's Catapult network and headquartered in Glasgow. The organisation operates eight UK facilities — including the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, the Floating Wind Innovation Centre (FLOWIC) in Aberdeen, the Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence in Pembroke Dock, the Operations & Maintenance Centre of Excellence in Grimsby, and the 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine — providing the world's most comprehensive suite of offshore renewable testing and validation infrastructure, with 50m and 100m blade test rigs, a 1MW drivetrain test rig, high-voltage cable testing capability, and materials laboratories accredited to UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 and IECRE standards.
ORE Catapult delivers services across four capability areas: Research, Engineering, Testing & Validation, and Supply Chain Growth. Core testing services span blades, drivetrains, electrical networks, materials, robotics and autonomous systems, floating offshore wind, marine energy, and circular economy. The organisation also runs flagship accelerator and supply chain programmes including Launch Academy, Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR), and the £100m industry-funded Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), serving OEMs, developers, supply chain companies, government agencies, and academia.
The business model combines recurring core funding from Innovate UK with commercial testing, validation, research, and engineering services delivered on a project-by-project basis to enterprise customers, plus competitive grant income. Customers include global developers (Ørsted, Vattenfall, EDF Renewables), OEMs (Ming Yang Smart Energy, Bladena), cable manufacturers (JDR Cable Systems), and over 1,481 SMEs. The 300+ person team is led by CEO Steve Foxley (joined 2025 from AMRC and Siemens) and Chair Ronnie Bonnar, with strategic direction shaped by a Board including senior figures from Ørsted, Shell, Vestas, James Fisher, and former Crown Estate leadership.
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
- Legal name
- Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
- Website
- https://ore.catapult.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- ORE Catapult is the UK's national technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, operating eight UK facilities that provide accredited testing, validation, research, and engineering services to OEMs, developers, supply chain companies, government, and academia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Offshore Renewable Energy Testing & Research Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Offshore Energy O&M (Offshore Wind, Platforms, Subsea Assets) (EUAEAGAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Energy Asset O&M (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Geothermal) (EUAEAGAB), Marine Surveys, Testing & NDT (Thickness Gauging, UT/MPI, Pressure Testing, Commissioning) (TLAHAMAK), Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI), Marine & Offshore Wind BOP Construction (Foundations, Cables, Ports, Installation Support) (EUAMAFAI)
Keywords
Where Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funding: ORE Catapult is part-funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. This provides core funding for operations and programmes.
- Testing and Validation Services: Fee-based testing, validation, and demonstration services for offshore renewables companies including blade testing, drivetrain testing, and electrical systems testing
- Research and Engineering Services: Applied research and engineering services for industry, government agencies, and academia to develop new products and services for the offshore renewables sector
- Supply Chain Growth Programmes: Programmes including Launch Academy, F4OR, OWGP that support UK supply chain development with industry and government backing
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ORE Catapult operates the UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, providing world-class testing, validation, demonstration, research, and engineering services to industry, academia and government. It runs unique physical facilities including the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth with 50m and 100m blade testing, a 1MW drivetrain test rig, high-voltage cable and electrical networks testing, plus the Levenmouth 7MW demonstration turbine, FLOWIC floating wind centre, O&M Centre of Excellence in Grimsby, and Marine Energy Centre in Pembroke Dock. It also delivers accelerator and supply chain programmes (Launch Academy, F4OR, OWGP) that help UK SMEs and OEMs commercialise offshore wind, marine energy, and autonomous systems technologies.
Product overview
ORE Catapult operates as the UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, offering a comprehensive portfolio of testing, validation, research, engineering, and supply chain growth services. The organisation provides world-class testing facilities including blade testing (50m and 100m), drivetrain testing (1MW test rig), electrical networks testing, and materials services at its National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. Its core product/service offerings include Smart O&M solutions, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Floating Offshore Wind services (via FLOWIC), Marine Energy engineering support, and Circular Economy services. The Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine provides a unique 7MW open-access research facility. Supporting the supply chain, ORE Catapult delivers accelerator programmes including Launch Academy, Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR), and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP). These services collectively support the UK's offshore wind sector from technology development through to commercialisation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Launch Academy: ORE Catapult's flagship technology accelerator programme designed to enhance the UK's offshore wind supply chain
- Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR)
- Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP)
- FLOWIC
- National Renewable Energy Centre
Products and services
- Blades Testing & Validation Full-scale wind turbine blade testing and validation services using the 50m and 100m Blade Test Facilities at the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. UKAS-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) and IECRE-accredited for structural testing of wind turbine blades. Used by global OEMs to validate designs, manufacturing processes and product reliability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 182 new products brought to market through support
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature9 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- High Value Manufacturing CatapultcoreJoint leadership of Wind Innovation Hub with ORE Catapult, focusing on advanced turbine technology, foundations, and electrical systems.
- National Composites CentrecoreLeadership role in Wind Innovation Hub supporting UK businesses developing advanced turbine technology and next-generation solutions.
- National Manufacturing Institute ScotlandcoreLeadership role in Wind Innovation Hub supporting advanced manufacturing for offshore wind sector.
- VattenfallcorePartnership extended at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm until 2026 allowing more companies to test crewless vessels and autonomous drones on live wind farm. Tests demonstrated emissions reductions and operational improvements.
- EDF Renewables UK and IrelandcoreDirector of Offshore Wind serving as Industry Sponsor for Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence's fourth strategic programme on construction, operations, and maintenance of commercial-scale floating wind farms.
- Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE)coreInternational collaboration agreement with Nova Scotia's COVE supporting Canada's offshore wind development and positioning Halifax as Canada's offshore wind leader.
- Shoreham PortminorDemonstration of PuriFire Energy's hydrothermal gasification technology for wastewater-to-fuel conversion at Shoreham Port as part of Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
- Newcastle UniversityminorConsortium partner for Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition wastewater-to-fuel technology showcase.
- X-Press FeedersminorConsortium partner exploring maritime sector deployment opportunities for green hydrogen and bio-methanol from wastewater conversion.
- Associated British PortsminorConsortium partner for Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition exploring deployment across UK maritime infrastructure.
- ØrstedcoreDigital Innovation Challenge partnership with Digital Catapult supporting AIM Group and Entopy to develop AI solutions for offshore wind operations and maintenance. Potential pilot opportunities across Ørsted's 12 operational offshore wind farms in UK.
- Digital CatapultcorePartnership with Ørsted and ORE Catapult for Digital Innovation Challenge supporting UK innovators AIM Group and Entopy in developing AI solutions for offshore wind O&M.
- BladenacoreAgreement to test blade reinforcement technology designed to extend operational life of offshore wind turbines using 88-metre blade for torsional load tests at Blyth facility. Bladena is part of RES, world's largest independent renewable company.
- Ming Yang Smart EnergycoreTesting agreement for 18.5MW offshore wind turbine main bearing at the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. Testing aims to improve turbine performance and reliability, supporting UK offshore wind capacity expansion and net-zero goals.
- JDR Cable SystemscoreFirst planned user of new high-voltage cable testing facility in Blyth, scheduled for 2026.
- AMRC CymrucoreCollaboration on development of next generation tidal stream turbine blades in Wales as part of VInnovate programme.
- Menter MoncoreWelsh Government-supported project for advanced tidal stream turbine blade development with ORE Catapult's Welsh team.
Scale indicators23 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Energy Systems Catapult: Direct UK Catapult Network peer focused on energy systems integration, smart grids and whole-system modelling. Both are publicly funded technology innovation centres operating the same Catapult funding model and serving overlapping clean-energy developer and supplier customers.
- High Value Manufacturing Catapult: Sister Catapult co-leading the Wind Innovation Hub with ORE Catapult. Direct peer in advanced manufacturing for offshore wind components (blades, drivetrains, foundations) with shared Innovate UK funding model and joint customer base across UK manufacturers.
- Fraunhofer IWES: Germany's leading wind energy research institute operating test rigs for blades, drivetrains and field measurements. Closest direct international peer given similar role validating wind turbine components under IEC standards for major European OEMs.
- Digital Catapult: Direct Catapult peer co-delivering the Ørsted Digital Innovation Challenge with ORE Catapult. Overlaps on AI/robotics O&M technology validation for offshore wind and shares the Innovate UK Catapult funding structure.
Broad incumbents
- DNV: Global testing, inspection and certification body providing blade, drivetrain and component qualification for the same OEMs and developers ORE Catapult serves. Acts as certification authority rather than facility operator, making it a complementary and competing counterparty.
- TÜV SÜD: Independent testing, inspection and certification group with significant wind energy and offshore certification services. Wider portfolio than ORE Catapult but overlaps on IECRE blade testing, electrical certification and project due diligence for offshore wind.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): US Department of Energy national laboratory operating the National Wind Technology Center with full-scale blade and drivetrain testing. Comparable institutional model (publicly funded R&D/testing for wind) but at significantly larger scale and budget.
Emerging players
- Carbon Trust: UK low-carbon innovation and advisory organisation, previously led by Non-Executive Director Benj Sykes alongside his Ørsted role. Overlaps with ORE Catapult in offshore wind accelerator programmes and SME development but focused on advisory rather than physical testing.
Regional players
- Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE): Canadian marine innovation centre in Nova Scotia with which ORE Catapult has a formal collaboration agreement to support Canada's offshore wind build-out. Comparable institution focused on ocean technology, marine renewables testing and SME acceleration but serving the Canadian Atlantic market.
Others
- Vestas Wind Systems: Global wind turbine OEM that has placed senior personnel on ORE Catapult's board (Non-Executive Director Maida Zahirovic). Not a direct competitor but a primary customer for blade and drivetrain testing services and a useful benchmark for the commercial scale of the offshore wind value chain ORE Catapult underpins.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult social profiles
Digital presenceOffshore Renewable Energy Catapult compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
What does Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult do?
ORE Catapult operates the UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, providing world-class testing, validation, demonstration, research, and engineering services to industry, academia and government. It runs unique physical facilities including the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth with 50m and 100m blade testing, a 1MW drivetrain test rig, high-voltage cable and electrical networks testing, plus the Levenmouth 7MW demonstration turbine, FLOWIC floating wind centre, O&M Centre of Excellence in Grimsby, and Marine Energy Centre in Pembroke Dock. It also delivers accelerator and supply chain programmes (Launch Academy, F4OR, OWGP) that help UK SMEs and OEMs commercialise offshore wind, marine energy, and autonomous systems technologies.
Is Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult a public or private company?
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult founded?
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult was founded in 2013. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult based?
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are testing and Validation Services, research and Engineering Services and supply Chain Growth Programmes.
Who are Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Energy Systems Catapult, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Fraunhofer IWES and Digital Catapult. Broad incumbents are DNV, TÜV SÜD and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Carbon Trust is listed as an emerging player. Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) is listed as a regional player. Vestas Wind Systems is listed as an others.
Does Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult have an API?
No public API is recorded for Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
What industry is Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in?
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult's product category is Offshore Renewable Energy Testing & Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEAGAO, Marine & Offshore Energy O&M (Offshore Wind, Platforms, Subsea Assets), with a secondary code of EUAEAGAB, Renewable Energy Asset O&M (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Geothermal). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8731.