Apollo is delighted to announce the award of a £150,000 Innovation Grant from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP). The funding will support the development of the PALM Quick Connection System (QCS), a system designed to simplify and reduce the cost of mooring and maintaining floating offshore wind turbines.
Currently, floating offshore wind maintenance often requires towing turbines back to port – an expensive and time-consuming process. The PALM QCS changes this by enabling quick, efficient hook-up and disconnection of cables and moorings. Using a unique mechanical system, it guides electrical and/or mechanical wet-mate connectors together with just the pull of a winch wire. This dramatically reduces installation time, enhances operational flexibility, and cuts vessel costs, helping to make floating wind projects more commercially viable.
This grant is part of a £1 million funding allocation, supported by OW Ocean Winds and Scottish Power Renewables, to drive cutting-edge innovation in the offshore wind supply chain. Apollo is one of six companies recognised under the Innovation Grant funding programme, showcasing the UK’s ambition to remain a leader in offshore wind technology.
Claire Canning, Programme Manager at OWGP, commented:
The success of last year’s funding calls showcases the immense potential within the UK’s offshore wind supply chain. We look forward to supporting the development of transformative projects, like these, that drive the sector forward and empower companies to achieve their ambitious growth goals.
Nigel Robinson, Marine Energies Director at Apollo, said:
This funding underscores our commitment to engineering solutions that deliver measurable benefits to the offshore wind industry. The PALM Quick Connection System will address critical challenges, helping to unlock the full potential of floating offshore wind. We’re proud to work alongside OWGP and other forward-thinking organisations to shape the future of clean energy.
The PALM QCS is part of Apollo’s wider portfolio of offshore innovations. Alongside QCS, the PALM Charger is set to transform offshore charging for electrically powered marine vessels. By providing offshore recharging points mounted onto existing structures, it will overcome range limitations in marine electrical vehicles, enabling extended offshore operations.
Apollo is seeking industry partners to accelerate the development and deployment of these technologies. Organisations interested in collaborating are encouraged to contact renewables@apollo.engineer.