OWIC is short for Offshore Wind Innovation Centre.
OWIC is an information, training and innovation center that focuses on companies and knowledge institutions that are involved in generating wind energy at sea (offshore wind). The aim of OWIC is to facilitate the development of business and innovations in the field of offshore wind energy. It will bring knowledge and experience together and makes it accessible to governments, knowledge institutions and the business community.
The need for green energy is increasing. And the importance and scope of wind energy will continue to grow in the coming years, particularly the wind energy that is extracted at sea. A part of this wind energy is generated off the Waddenzee. The offshore wind farms that are going to generate this energy must not only be built, but they also have to be maintained. There will be great economic opportunities here for (new) business, knowledge sharing and innovations.
19 parties (including business, knowledge institutions and governments) have united in OWIC. Together they want to ensure that companies can innovate and develop in offshore wind energy more easily and faster. The focus is on service and maintenance of the wind farms. OWIC wants to be the one-stop shop here where people can go for information and for making relevant contacts with others. In addition, OWIC will set up facilities for training and education in the field of offshore wind energy.
Innovations, contacts & training
19 parties (including business, knowledge institutions and governments) have joined their forces in OWIC. Together they want to ensure that companies can innovate and develop in offshore wind energy more easily and faster. The focus is on service and maintenance of the wind farms. OWIC strives to be the one-stop shop where people can go to for information and for making relevant contacts with others. In addition, OWIC will set up facilities for training and education in the field of offshore wind energy.
OWIC will initially focus on a physical location in Nijlicht in the Eemshaven. Nijlicht is already a meeting place for start-up companies in the field of offshore wind energy (MOI Offshore Energy). From this location, OWIC will further shape and substantiate the counter in the coming period and will make its presence widely known to national and European businesses.
Eemshaven is a strategic location for offshore wind energy. This is where the electricity comes ashore from one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world (Gemini Wind Park: 600 Mw). Since 2009 the Port has played an important role in the assembly and logistics handling of wind turbines and is now one of the most important offshore wind ports on the North Sea. Eemshaven has not only grown into a major base port for offshore wind logistics, but also into a service port for the maintenance of the installed wind turbines at sea.
By expanding the innovative capacity in the region, OWIC wants to further increase and utilize the opportunities for businesses, knowledge institutions and governments that the construction and maintenance of these parks offer.
OWIC-partners
1. Hanzehogeschool Groningen (HHG)
2. Noorderpoort
3. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RuG)
4. New Energy Coalition (NEC)
5. Groningen Seaports (GSP)
6. NNOW (stichting)
7. STARK Learning (MKB)
8. TCNN (stichting)
9. Saxion Hogeschool
10. WindTechs (stichting)
11. HICE (MKB)
12. Rope Access Noord (MKB)
13. Stopaq (MKB)
14. Hijsspecialist (MKB)
15. CIV Offshore (MKB)
16. DHSS (MKB)
17. Delftechniek (MKB)
18. Virol (MKB)
19. Lubbers Logistics Group (MKB)
20. WIND (MKB)