Orsted has unveiled its new UK/Ireland innovation hub

The Innovation Hub will assist academic research, combining Orsted's previous connections to colleges and research institutions.

In order to collaborate with start-ups and smaller firms in the renewable energy sector, Orsted has established the UK and Ireland Innovation Hub. A front entrance for UK and IE entrepreneurs looking to collaborate with Orsted and support the best that these innovation ecosystems have to offer will be provided via the hub, which is supported by an initial £500,000 investment. Building on the success of those established in the US and the Netherlands, it will be a member of an expanding network of Orsted Innovation Hubs. "There are many fantastic start-ups and researchers in the UK and Ireland with important pieces of the jigsaw to create a world that runs entirely on green energy," said David Bould, Head of UK&IE Ventures and Open Innovation.

Spoor, a Norwegian start-up, has created a specially designed artificial intelligence system to monitor and track birdlife around offshore wind farms, and Eleven-I, a UK company, has created tech for identifying damage to wind turbine blades. These are just two examples of the cutting-edge start-ups and young enterprises with which Orsted will be collaborating. The Innovation Hub will assist academic research, combining Orsted's previous connections to colleges and research institutions like Oxford University. Eleven-I's CEO, Bill Slatter, stated: "Buy-in from organizations like Orsted, a significant developer and long-term owner and operator, is crucial for start-ups like Eleven-i.