The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has completed the acquisition of the 7MW demonstration offshore wind turbine, located off the East Fife coast, from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).
The turbine offers UK industry and academia an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of technologies as well as the operations and maintenance aspects of offshore wind turbines, and thus drive down the cost of delivering clean energy from offshore wind, ORE Catapult pointed out.
ORE Catapult will now undertake a planned period of operation and familiarisation of the turbine alongside SHI, whilst continuing to develop research and development activities covering multiple areas of offshore wind operations.
The Catapult stated that it now operates the largest concentration of open access renewable energy test and demonstration facilities anywhere in the world, with the Levenmouth turbine complementing its existing facilities at its National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland.