The Glasgow-based Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Spain’s Tecnalia have agreed to collaborate on offshore energy research and development
The two organisations will collaborate on EU frameworks and share testing and demonstration experience in offshore wind energy technologies, with a view to improving existing testing capabilities and facilitating access to each other’s testing infrastructure.
They will also exchange knowledge on HVDC technologies, rain erosion test methodologies, erosion coating technologies and measurement techniques.
Representatives from both organisations will sit on each other’s respective advisory groups, helping to identify and prioritise critical areas where innovative approaches and technological development can accelerate cost reduction in the delivery of offshore renewable energy.
Ignacio Martí Pérez, Innovation & Research Director, ORE Catapult, said: “Working collaboratively with Tecnalia will enable us to develop international best practice in technology research and development and to focus on accelerating cross border innovation.
“We can then share that knowledge, ultimately benefitting the whole offshore renewables industry and helping to drive down the cost of energy from offshore wind.”
Luis Pedrosa, General Director of Energy and Environment for Tecnalia, added: “We believe that research, development and innovation can play a key role in delivering competitive technologies compared to other energy sources.
“Through this framework, sharing knowledge, experiences, facilities, Tecnalia and ORE Catapult will directly support the energy industry to harness the benefits of the huge energy resource that is the sea. Our collaboration will boost the offshore renewable industry”.
Jonathan Cole, Iberdrola Offshore Managing Director and Chairman of ORE Catapult’s Industry Advisory Group, added: “Both the UK and Spain are global leaders in offshore renewables, and this announcement of a collaboration agreement between two of their leading research institutes is a welcome move towards securing and delivering affordable low carbon energy generation.”
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