Offshore wind technology firms join forces
Rovco and Vaarst have both developed and deployed artificial intelligence and autonomy to raise efficiency in offshore wind development. Under the unified Beam brand, they will continue to focus on generating more reliability and efficiency, with the ultimate aim of improving the commercial viability of offshore wind compared to hydrocarbon-based offshore developments.
Rovco was founded in 2016 by Brian Allen, who also set up technology spin-off Vaarst later in 2021. Following the merger, Allen will be CEO, overseeing a workforce of around 200.
This number is set to rise quickly, however, with another 150 employees likely to be taken on for high-tech roles at the company’s various UK locations – Bristol, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh. Beam is expected to expand in global markets too – with another 50 personnel taken on, including 25 in the United States and ten in Asia.
Commenting on the Beam setup, Allen said: “Piecemeal policymaking, supply chain issues and the rising workforce shortage have created hurdles in the green energy transition and fuelled a continued reliance on oil and gas. It’s never been more important to find ways to cut costs and project timelines.
“This merger under a united brand makes Beam the only company in the world with a unique combination of subsea AI, computer vision, sonar and autonomous advanced robotics. Our mission is to deliver real world impact in the offshore wind industry by making it cost-competitive with oil and gas, which is a pivotal step in ending the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.”