ROBOTICS and autonomous systems are set to play a significant role in the energy sector as it aims for net zero, according to new research.
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult said the global market for robotics will be worth £8.4 billion by 2050. On-and offshore wind energy is expected to open up a new robotics frontier valued at £1.3bn by 2030, rising to £3.5bn by 2050.
Declining production, it said, will see the oil and gas sector’s robotics market peak at £5bn in 2030, before reducing to £3.3bn by 2050.
Glasgow-based ORE Catapult said the UK is targeting a seven-fold increase in offshore wind capacity by 2050, which will bring a need for more operations and maintenance (O&M) activity.
As windfarms are located in deeper, more remote and often challenging waters, securing safe access for humans will be a significant industry challenge.
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Accelerating and investing in the development of advanced robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) will mitigate this risk and means robots will handle not only routine maintenance tasks, but also improve pre-emptive maintenance. This is expected to extend the life of components and turbines at sea, supporting the industry’s waste reduction drive.
The report highlights that the global wind O&M market (on-and offshore) will grow from £51bn in 2030 to £120bn in 2050. While robotics will take a share of this, these technologies will also combine with data and digital solutions and other forms of O&M to increase that market share.
The expansion of offshore wind is set to offset many of the oil and gas jobs set to be lost over the next 30 years, with RAS set to create a 200,000 net jobs boost across all UK sectors by 2038. The report said that while the UK offshore wind O&M market for robotics is set to double in size, the export potential is even greater
and set for staggering growth of 410%, rising from £235m in 2030 to £1.2bn in 2050.
Gavin Smart, ORE Catapult’s head of analysis and insights, said: “The growth of the global energy market presents a remarkable opportunity for robotics and autonomous systems.
“This is not only the case in offshore renewables, a sector which continues to grow at pace, but also in oil and gas in the short to medium term. What is unique about the robotics market is the potential for cross-application technologies.
“It is likely that the solutions that will maximise performance, increase efficiency and improve safety will be adapted to work across multiple industries – inside and outside energy.
“As we continue to work towards achieving net zero, it is clear that robotics will play a key part. The opportunity this presents for the UK is significant – across the supply chain we can create jobs, upskill our energy workforce, build export potential and add value to our economy.”
ORE Catapult supports many technologies for the offshore wind sector, including robots that can crawl turbine blades to conduct repair; perform subsea cleaning and inspection tasks; and uncrewed vessels that provide a power and communication hub for remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.
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