As of September 2009, project manager David Wood from Suffolk County Council, took on the task of leading the POWER cluster project’s work package concerned with offshore wind business development in the North Sea Region. David Wood gives us an update about his first 30 days “in office” and the latest developments in his business work package.
My first 30 days
This will be my third European project having previously worked on both ANSWER and Cradle to Cradle. In my capacity as project manager I am delighted to be working closely with EEEGR and I am looking forward to building on an excellent transnational POWER cluster meeting held in Sweden in connection to the EOW 2009 conference.
I was appointed project manager for POWER cluster September 1 2009. 75% of my time is dedicated to POWER cluster the remaining 25% involves helping develop and understand the wider energy sector in Suffolk.
I have learnt that there is some excellent collaborative work taking place between the partners in POWER cluster. However the challenge is building on this without spending most of the time travelling. Although with great challenge comes great opportunity: the chance to embrace new technology like telephone and video conference facilities which are available to us.
I feel that in the current economic climate there is a real opportunity for us to support businesses. At the heart of this I believe the people working on POWER cluster have the personality, persistence and knowledge to ensure we succeed.
WP2 "Business" update
Turning contacts into contracts
Business to Business (B2B)
This activity deals more with actually getting businesses together to form relationships, create new contracts and support the supply chain. The next business to business networking event takes place November 17 2009 in Esbjerg, Denmark. For more information click here.
Cluster mapping
A cluster map for the North Sea region is being developed and a roll out strategy was agreed at the last WP2 meeting. The cluster mapping provides the location of companies involved in offshore wind across Europe and the area(s) of the supply chain they occupy. The updated industry classification report underpins Mapergy by providing a common framework for classifying businesses. Further information will be coming soon so keep an eye out on the POWER cluster website.
Overcoming challenges for the offshore wind industry
This activity funds a study entitled: Overcoming challenges for the offshore wind industry and learning from the oil and gas industry. It is imperative for offshore wind to learn from the oil and gas industry if renewable energy targets at to be met. The study will investigate the experiences of the oil and gas industry in the North Sea Region, looking in particular at the oil and gas industry in the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark. It will take into account the lessons learnt and the concepts that can be transferred to the offshore wind industry in the partner regions of Denmark, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The experience from the oil and gas industry will provide key information to underpin project activities and future developments. The study is an essential part of the POWER cluster project as a whole because the offshore wind industry, as a comparatively young industry, still has substantial challenges to overcome.
A Sub OJEU tender process was employed and tender applications have now closed. There were 49 expressions of interest and 13 applied to tender for the study. All applications have now been evaluated and the wining provider will be announced in the near future. The initial findings of the study will be announced at POWER cluster’s mid term conference in May (All Energy, Aberdeen).
As of September 2009, project manager David Wood from Suffolk County Council, took on the task of leading the POWER cluster project’s work package concerned with offshore wind business development in the North Sea Region. David Wood gives us an update about his first 30 days “in office” and the latest developments in his business work package.
My first 30 days
This will be my third European project having previously worked on both ANSWER and Cradle to Cradle. In my capacity as project manager I am delighted to be working closely with EEEGR and I am looking forward to building on an excellent transnational POWER cluster meeting held in Sweden in connection to the EOW 2009 conference.
I was appointed project manager for POWER cluster September 1 2009. 75% of my time is dedicated to POWER cluster the remaining 25% involves helping develop and understand the wider energy sector in Suffolk.
I have learnt that there is some excellent collaborative work taking place between the partners in POWER cluster. However the challenge is building on this without spending most of the time travelling. Although with great challenge comes great opportunity: the chance to embrace new technology like telephone and video conference facilities which are available to us.
I feel that in the current economic climate there is a real opportunity for us to support businesses. At the heart of this I believe the people working on POWER cluster have the personality, persistence and knowledge to ensure we succeed.
WP2 "Business" update
Turning contacts into contracts
Business to Business (B2B)
This activity deals more with actually getting businesses together to form relationships, create new contracts and support the supply chain. The next business to business networking event takes place November 17 2009 in Esbjerg, Denmark. For more information click here.
Cluster mapping
A cluster map for the North Sea region is being developed and a roll out strategy was agreed at the last WP2 meeting. The cluster mapping provides the location of companies involved in offshore wind across Europe and the area(s) of the supply chain they occupy. The updated industry classification report underpins Mapergy by providing a common framework for classifying businesses. Further information will be coming soon so keep an eye out on the POWER cluster website.
Overcoming challenges for the offshore wind industry
This activity funds a study entitled: Overcoming challenges for the offshore wind industry and learning from the oil and gas industry. It is imperative for offshore wind to learn from the oil and gas industry if renewable energy targets at to be met. The study will investigate the experiences of the oil and gas industry in the North Sea Region, looking in particular at the oil and gas industry in the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark. It will take into account the lessons learnt and the concepts that can be transferred to the offshore wind industry in the partner regions of Denmark, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The experience from the oil and gas industry will provide key information to underpin project activities and future developments. The study is an essential part of the POWER cluster project as a whole because the offshore wind industry, as a comparatively young industry, still has substantial challenges to overcome.
A Sub OJEU tender process was employed and tender applications have now closed. There were 49 expressions of interest and 13 applied to tender for the study. All applications have now been evaluated and the wining provider will be announced in the near future. The initial findings of the study will be announced at POWER cluster’s mid term conference in May (All Energy, Aberdeen).