A £10 million EU programme to fund open-sea trials for ocean energy – where test facilities include the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre – is seeking applications from developers.
Successful applicants will receive free access to test ocean energy technologies in real sea conditions at a network of open sea test centres.
The FORESEA project was launched to help enterprises test and demonstrate low carbon energy technologies in real sea environments at the following test infrastructures:
– European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) – Orkney Islands, UK (pictured, above)
– SEM-REV – Nantes, France
– SmartBay – Galway, Ireland
– Tidal Testing Centre, Den Oever, Netherlands
Applications are open to parties who wish to deploy their technology for testing before June 2018.
Preference will be given to technologies ready for deployment in 2016 and early 2017. The deadline for applications is 21 September 2016.
John Breslin, General Manager, Smart Bay Ireland – an Aberdeen University graduate who is also access coordinator at the FORESEA programme – said: “The test infrastructures on offer through the FORESEA programme are amongst the best in the world and present a great example of European collaboration and cooperation
“The programme provides an important test and validation pathway for ocean energy technology developers in their journey towards commercialisation.”