16 Dutch companies and research institutes have launched the program for offshore wind: GROW, Growth through Research, development & demonstration in Offshore Wind. The consortium's mission is to bring the cost of offshore wind further down to seven eurocents per kWh by 2030. Over the next five years, GROW will help introduce innovations to the market. GROW will spend at least € 100 million on research, development and demonstration projects over the next five years.
GROW is a consortium of companies and research institutes in the Netherlands. The founders are Delft Offshore Turbine, Deltares, ECN, Eneco, Lagerwey, LM Wind Power, Royal IHC, RWE, Seaway Heavy Lifting, Shell, Sif, TenneT, TNO, TU Delft, Van Oord, and Volker Stevin International. GROW will pursue technical innovations that bring the cost of offshore wind further down and contribute to the reliability and stability of the entire energy system. GROW will also improve symbiosis with other sectors at sea (oil & gas, fishery, shipping and tourism) and will research and further limit the environmental effects of offshore wind. GROW is the successor of the FLOW, Far and Large Offshore Wind, research program. Over the last five years, the thirteen Dutch companies and research institutes of FLOW brought the costs of offshore wind down by 20 per cent. GROW will work closely together with the TKI Wind op Zee. The GROW consortium is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Topsector Energy to explore options for government support and cooperation. GROW's first projects are expected to commence in the fall of 2016.
