The UK's strongest wind resources are getting deeper
The future of offshore wind lies beyond the reach of today's conventional foundation technologies.
As developers move into deeper waters, fixed-bottom foundations become increasingly costly and complex. Floating foundations remain critical for truly deepwater deployment but continue to face challenges around cost, scalability, installation, and supply chain maturity.
The result is a significant gap in the 60–90m range.
At the same time, UK Government has recognised this challenge through the introduction of the Other Deepwater Offshore Wind (ODOW) category.
The opportunity now exists to unlock some of the UK's most valuable offshore wind resources.
Key statistics
60-90m
ODOW Operating Depths
12GW
Suitable across ScotWind projects
4.5GW
Suitable across Celtic Sea projects
40%
Longer-term potential for up to 40% CAPEX reduction compared with fixed-bottom or floating foundations in water depths of 60-90m
"The offshore wind industry has long faced a gap between what fixed-bottom foundations can economically deliver and where floating becomes viable. As projects move into deeper waters, developers need solutions that are commercially practical, not just technically possible. The Neretek BC90™ has been designed to bridge that gap and unlock a new phase of offshore wind growth."
Jonathan Cole - Chair
Meet the Neretek BC90™
Monopile simplicity / Deepwater capability
The Neretek BC90™ is a next-generation offshore wind foundation designed specifically for the 60–90m depth range.
Developed over nearly a decade by Wood Thilsted Innovation and COP Frontier, it combines established monopile fabrication methods with innovative engineering that extends deployment into transitional water depths.
The result is a commercially viable solution that sits between traditional fixed-bottom and floating foundations.
Lower Cost + Lower Risk =
Greater Bankability
Developed for ODOW
Designed to maximise the UK’s 60-90m transitional deepwater wind.
Supply Chain Ready
Manufactured using established supply chain capabilities.
Standard Turbines
Compatible with conventional offshore wind turbines.
Installation Ready
No reliance on large specialist heavy-lift vessels and can be deployed from existing port infrastructure.
Unlock Deepwater Potential
Access stronger winds, boost output, unlock most UK-designated floating sites.
Reduce Deployment Risk
Uses proven methods, established supply chains, and is compatible with standard turbines.
Lead Commercially
Lower CAPEX, reduced installation complexity, enhanced CfD competitiveness, and cheaper energy.
A new approach to deepwater foundations.
The Neretek BC90™ combines monopile fabrication simplicity with innovative deployment techniques to deliver a foundation specifically designed for transitional water depths. Its proprietary ballasting system enables wet-tow and controlled upending, reducing vessel requirements and installation complexity. Combined with a taut structural response compatible with standard turbines, the result is a highly scalable offshore wind solution.
Main Column
Large-diameter steel column fabricated using existing monopile manufacturing supply chains. Internal volume divided into permanent upper and variable lower buoyancy compartments.
Taut Mooring System
Pre-tensioned mooring lines provide lateral and overturning resistance, attached below the waterline. High pre-tension produces near-fixed-bottom natural frequencies.
Footing & Pin Connection
Seabed footing pre-installed before column arrival. Column locates via a pin connection, transferring vertical loads while mooring lines manage lateral forces.
Anchoring System
Site-adaptive anchor technology — suction caissons, driven pin-piles, drilled piles, or rock anchors — applicable to any seabed condition worldwide.
In-line Tensioner
An in-line tensioner allows post-installation fine adjustment of mooring line tension, ensuring precise structural behaviour and compensating for long-term creep.
Internal Buoyancy System
Dual-compartment buoyancy enables wet-tow and valve-controlled upending. Upper compartment permanent; lower compartment variable.
Created by offshore wind leaders
Developed by some of the most experienced names in offshore wind engineering and project development.
Jonathan Cole
Chair, Neretek
Alastair Muir Wood
CEO, Wood Thilsted
Henrik Scheinemann
Chair, COP Frontier
Alan Hannah
COO, COP Frontier
Christian Thilsted
CTO, Wood Thilsted
Uffe Jørgensen
CTO, COP Frontier
Turning policy into projects
The introduction of ODOW in Allocation Round 8 is a significant step forward for UK offshore wind.
The Neretek Column90™ is ready to help convert that policy ambition into commercially viable deployment. By reducing cost, lowering risk, and leveraging established supply chains, it supports the accelerated build-out of deepwater offshore wind capacity.
"From the outset, our ambition was to create a foundation that could extend offshore wind into deeper waters without sacrificing the simplicity and scalability that have made fixed-bottom wind so successful. The Neretek BC90™ represents nearly a decade of engineering innovation focused on solving that challenge."
Alastair Muir Wood - CEO, Wood Thilsted
Let's unlock deepwater wind together.
Whether you're a developer, investor, policymaker, supply chain partner, or member of the media, we'd love to hear from you.