The National Renewable Energy Centre, Narec, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Technical Research Institute of Sweden (SP), to further combined collaborative R&D activities and establish a formalised strategic partnership to strengthen existing capability in the area of offshore renewable energy.
There already exists a great deal of synergy between the two Centres, with both organisations bringing complimentary assets and knowledge to the table in the areas of wind turbine blade testing and demonstration activities.
For Narec, this framework for cooperation marks the next stage of development; establishing international collaborations is a key dimension in strengthening and enhancing Narec’s existing capability as well as reinforcing its links with European research centres.
Ignacio Marti, Chief Technology Officer, Narec said: “Narec and SP have been working together for a number of years now but formalising this relationship will be beneficial to both parties, allowing us to exploit one another’s strengths and extend the scope and focus of our commercial and research activities.”
Pierre Ingmarsson, SP said: “We are very happy to be working together with Narec, which truly is a world-leading centre specialised in offshore renewable energy.
“Combining Narec’s capabilities with SP’s state-of-the-art competence, test environments and experience, in the fields of fatigue and reliability, measurement technology and high-voltage systems will allow us to develop and undertake more R&D projects for the benefit of the offshore renewables sector.”
Caroline Theobald, Honorary Consul for Sweden, said: “I am delighted to hear of this latest development in collaborative working between organisations in North East England and their counterparts in Sweden. This important relationship builds on the existing partnerships which exist between NELEP and Arts Council England and Region Vastra Gotaland. Both are set to increase trade flows and knowledge exchange and I know that exciting business-to-business collaborations will follow.”
Press release, January 21, 2014; Image: Narec