UK: Scour Prevention Systems Wins Top Award

UK Scour Prevention Systems Wins Top Award

Lowestoft based start-up Scour Prevention Systems has won the ‘One to Watch’ award at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2013.

The company, based at the OrbisEnergy innovation centre, has developed an innovative and patented solution to prevent scour around the base of offshore structures like wind turbines and over cables lying on the seabed.

A significant problem across the offshore energy industries, scour is caused by the flow of water speeding up around or over an object, creating a hole that gets progressively deeper.

Founder Robert Durrant and Project Manager Warren Hoskins-Davies received the award at a celebration event in Ipswich on 4th July.

 “We are thrilled to receive such as esteemed award, which recognises the hard work of our dedicated team to date and the growth potential in an industry sector where this region is already a global leader,” said Robert.

 “We’re looking forward to building on that reputation as we grow the business. We’re currently finalising offshore sea trials of the system and are in discussions with a number of wind farm developers about potential applications.”

Scour is a serious problem affecting any offshore structure in flowing water. It represents a considerable challenge for offshore engineers as it can compromise stability and cause fatigue in marine structures. The rapid growth in offshore renewables has given a renewed significance to the problem of scour.

The award was sponsored by enterprise specialists NWES who are also co-sponsors of the EADT’s Future 50. Kevin Horne, CEO of NWES said, “The One to Watch award is about recognising an outstanding early stage business which shows the promise to become a success story of tomorrow.

“Scour Prevention Systems has developed an innovative solution to a major industry problem and with the scale of offshore developments off the East Anglian coast we’re confident that the business has significant growth potential over the coming years and will certainly be one to watch with excitement.”

 The judges said, “Scour Prevention Systems is a company with real potential in the emerging offshore renewables sector. It is also environmentally sound, locally based and has aspirations for significant growth.”

The company, started in 2009, has received “angel” investment and innovation grant support from the Technology Strategy Board for offshore trials of its anti-scour solution on operational wind turbines off the Norfolk coast.

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Press release, July 10, 2013; Image: tmsmedia