Engineering, construction and equipment rental company Innovo, of Aberdeen, has received a cash boost to support its plans to develop drone sailing craft.
The £10,000 funding for Innovo and project partner Strathclyde University is from the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) – an alliance of 14 independent Scottish higher education institutions supporting energy industry research and development (R&D).
It will support R&D for Innovo’s innovative autonomous “eco-robotic” surface vessel, Oceandrone.
“Innovo’s innovation will help the Scottish government reach its goal of net-zero carbon by 2045.”
Garry Millard, Innovo.Designed by Innovo engineers and naval architects, Oceandrone uses a combination of wind, solar and hydrogen power, together with patented sail management and propulsion systems. It is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from a
wide range of offshore operations.
Industries expected to benefit include offshore energy, ocean sciences, marine environmental protection and the military.
Other potential markets for Oceandrone include telecoms, subsea data storage, ocean research, fish farming, seabed mineral exploration, carbon capture and hydrogen generation.
Job, revenue and export targetsBusiness development director Garry Millard said Innovo was committed to “developing an autonomous, eco-robotic wind, solar-cell and hydrogen fuel-cell sailing craft that will revolutionise unmanned autonomous surface vehicles.”
He added: “Innovo’s innovation will help the Scottish Government reach its goal of net-zero carbon by 2045 by replacing marine survey support vessels working within the renewable energy sector and supporting a reduction in travel, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.”
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