Powering progress together: OWC 2025 Showcases the Humber’s collaborative strength
“Choosing to go far together.” The resonant words from key-note speaker Corrine Barry captured the spirit of Offshore Wind Connections 2025.
The annual flagship conference organised by Humber Marine & Renewables, attracted a full house with delegates travelling to Hull from across the UK and beyond.
Corrine, who is UK East Coast Director for Net Zero at RWE, OWC 2025’s headline sponsor, championed the imperative of collaboration to accelerate sectoral growth and reinforce the strategic significance of the Humber cluster. “We know that long-term success doesn’t come from working in silos,” she said, before speaking of RWE’s increasing commitment to co-creation. In a rallying call, she concluded: “Let’s grow the Humber, not as a project pipeline, but as a collaborative powerhouse.”
Compere Dave Laister, director at both Humber Marine & Renewables and Hull-based marketing consultancy Fred, addressed the volatile geo-political landscape, noting that “never before, internationally and domestically, has it been more crucial for the industry to stand shoulder to shoulder in pre-competitive arenas such as this.”
And standing united were some of the most prominent names in offshore wind: major developers; pioneering supply chain success stories; the skills and education providers shaping the future workforce to realise the Humber’s ambition; and the conference’s global counterpart, WindEnergy Hamburg, joining for the first time as a sponsor.
Senior representatives from The Crown Estate, RenewableUK and Maritime UK addressed delegates, and in a buoyant recorded message, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, hailed the Humber as “an absolutely brilliant energy hub for Britain.”
Emma Toulson, head of stakeholder relations at platinum sponsor Orsted, spoke of “a proud spirit here in the Humber cluster,” which she champions in an official capacity.
Chair of Humber Marine & Renewables Andrew Oliver remarked that the event’s central theme of connectivity was foundational throughout its planning. While firmly rooted in regional strengths, the conference was also strategically outward facing, signalling a clear intent to align with international growth in the sector.
The conference addressed critical industry concerns, along with the opportunities, in a series of speaker and panel sessions. From the fiscal regime’s implications for growth, deftly navigated by RSM’s Sheen McGuinness, to the evolving policy landscape, advice on international market access and lucrative supply chain prospects – including those relating to Outer Dowsing – the programme reflected the immense scope of the sector in the Humber, delivering a compelling message about the UK and global potential to be realised.
A pointed reminder of the issues stifling further growth came from Marcus Walker of Able UK who warned that development of the company’s major offshore wind port remained in jeopardy due to insufficient government support. He urged: “We need to create a cluster port and the Humber is the place to do this.”
Reflecting on the conference, Daniel Flaxington of gold sponsor SES, observed: “The event brought together a dynamic network of industry leaders committed to advancing the UK’s offshore wind sector and our discussions underscored the momentum behind offshore wind as a strategic enabler of the UK’s energy mix.”
Simon Eardley, head of policy & innovation at Mersey Maritime commented that OWC 2025 highlighted how regional maritime clusters could be key lynchpins in helping to deliver valuable and productive collaboration.
“The clear message was that the offshore wind supply is global, just as the wider maritime industry is,” he said.
With a packed exhibition hall and lively networking, which according to delegate John Martin of Orsted, enabled valuable discussions “both technically and commercially”, the stage was set for the Humber Renewables Awards, hosted at the same venue. In an uplifting and emotional ceremony, the gala evening honoured outstanding achievements across the wider renewables ecosystem of the Humber region.
Humber Marine & Renewables would like to thank all OWC 2025 sponsors and supporters, whose generosity helped make the event a huge success once again. They were: RWE, Orsted, ABP, Andrew Jackson Solicitors, MMS Ship Repair, Pentagon, SES, Torque Solutions, Humber Freeport WindEnergy Hamburg, RSM, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Hull City Council, The Humber Offshore Wind Cluster, The Supply Chain Network, and RenewableUK.