Brazil: Mapping Offshore Wind Value and Innovation Chains

Client

Brazil Energy Programme – UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

Challenge

As part of the Brazil Energy Programme, FCDO had wanted to map the offshore wind (OSW) value and innovation chains in the UK and EU to support the development of the Brazilian OSW sector. This included identifying key learnings and challenges in the development of UK and EU OSW chains which would be applicable in the Brazilian context.

Solution

CLT delivered a study mapping the key developments of the EU and UK OSW value and innovation chains. Based on the findings, several recommendations were proposed to support the development of the Brazilian OSW sector.

The project was led by an industry expert with over 25 years of OSW experience, and the evidence base was gathered through a combination of expert interviews, desk-based research, workshops, and conferences.

Based on desk research, a database was produced that detailed over 120 key stakeholders, organisations, and innovative SMEs in the UK and EU OSW sector. This information was then analysed to identify existing and emerging technologies and trends in the value and innovation chain.

Interviews with leading industry experts were held to supplement the analysis and gain further insights from an operational perspective on both the past and current challenges in the UK and EU OSW sector. Their views and experiences were gathered regarding risks and challenges associated with entering new markets, with a particular focus on Brazil.

A series of workshops were held with Brazil Energy Programme colleagues based in Brazil, who were preparing a report on the state of the Brazilian OSW sector to understand the specific challenges facing the sector and formulate contextualised recommendations based on UK and EU learnings.

Outcome

Based on CLT’s multi-method research approach and detailed analysis, we produced a report mapping the key developments of the UK and EU OSW value and innovation chain. In addition, we provided tailored and contextualised recommendations to overcome key challenges and barriers facing the Brazilian OSW sector. We also presented other findings and best practices that could help Brazil accelerate growth in their OSW sector based on the learnings identified in the UK and EU. Some of the key areas that CLT had highlighted and provided recommendations on in the report included:

• Identifying key requirements for workforce training and certification of personnel
• Emerging and innovative technologies that would reduce the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) or improve energy yield
• Developing regional OSW clusters to leverage existing supply chains and skills
• How regional SMEs could enter the OSW supply chain and the requirements for foreign SMEs to enter the Brazilian market
• Programmes and examples of improving gender, inclusivity, and social diversity in the OSW sector
• Policy frameworks and financial incentives to stimulate the development of the OSW sector
• Role of national and local sector organisations to create self-sustaining OSW wind clusters and provide help to existing and new companies to establish themselves in the sector
• Role of commercialisation support to enable adoption of new technologies in the sector and bring down costs

“The organisation has a real commitment to quality and has consistently demonstrated their ability to get things done even in challenging circumstances. CLT drew upon a wide network of advisers and sector experts, including industry leading figures. CLT’s management of workstreams and advisers has been strong, going above and beyond to deliver complex solutions. Their work has been of consistent high quality, delivering on time and within the agreed budget parameters. I’ve been particularly impressed by CLT’s proactive approach to risk management and problem solving which is so critical to the delivery of complex technology demonstration pilots. The partnership has been extremely collaborative and CLT’s management has built strong relationships with ASI, the wider consortium and the client (FCDO).”
— Zane Kanderian, Director, ASI