The MaRINET2 project has opened a call for applications for ocean energy developers to access a world-leading network of testing and research infrastructures across Europe free of charge.
The call, launched on April 10, 2017, is open to offshore energy technology developers, including wind, wave and tidal energy at system and component level. The deadline for applications to the call has been set up for May 20, 2017.
MaRINET2 is a €10.5 million project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program, and coordinated by the MaREI (Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland) Centre.
The project will seek to accelerate the development of offshore renewable energy technologies by providing free-of-charge access to a network of 57 research facilities across Europe, which will be granted through a series of competitive calls for applicants.
Jimmy Murphy , MaRINET2 Project Coordinator from the University College Cork, said: “Over the next four years, MaRINET2 will be an important instrument for reducing the cost of development in Europe’s offshore renewable energy sector. It will keep innovative new technologies progressing towards the marketplace, and keep Europe at the cutting edge of development globally. It will also strengthen Europe’s network of world-leading offshore renewables research infrastructure.”
Jose Luis Villate , MaRINET2 Dissemination Coordinator, and Director of offshore renewable energy at Tecnalia highlighted the need for collaboration around offshore renewable technologies: “Access to testing and research infrastructures within MaRINET2 will open collaboration opportunities among different actors in the sector. This is a positive development.”
MaRINET2 project was officially launched in Ireland early in February 2017. It will build on the first MaRINET project under which over 700 weeks of access was made available to 178 projects and 800 companies over the 4.5-year initiative which ended in 2016.
More details on eligibility criteria, how to apply, and available testing infrastructures, can be found at MaRINET2 website .