NAREC sets up £2.8mn fund to assist SME's in NE England

Tecnalia will work with PDL Solutions and JDR Cable Systems on the design and development of smart cable technology.  Offshore grid infrastructure reliability is a key concern for the industry and this project will focus on improving the understanding of cable performance in-situ, so that installation, operational and asset management practices can be evolved to optimise energy production.

Elisa Ruiz, Project Manager at Tecnalia, said: “The smart cables project is an exciting opportunity for the consortium partners to work together to deliver innovation which has the potential to materially impact the levelised cost of offshore renewable energy'.

James Young, Engineering Director at JDR, added: “We are committed to enabling the next generation of offshore power projects to deliver cost-effective renewable energy, using the latest developments in cable technology and manufacture.  The collaborative approach being taken by NAREC and the support provided by the ERDF, will enable us to accelerate developments in smart cable technology that will benefit the industry and the region.”

Paul Charlton, CEO, PDL Solutions, said: “This project is an excellent opportunity to showcase the specialist skills and expertise located here in North East England; it highlights the vital contribution the region is playing in the commercialisation and reliability of offshore renewable energy technologies. This is a great opportunity for PDL and the wider supply chain; we are really pleased to be part of this collaborative industrial research project.”

Tidal energy converter nacelle intervention system

This project, currently in development, will enable Atlantis Resources Corporation to work with Narec on the development of a highly innovative nacelle intervention system for their tidal energy turbine.  This is intended to significantly reduce the installation and operation costs offshore.

Tim Cornelius, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantis Resources, said: “The tidal energy industry is at a crucial stage in its development and this partnership could make a material difference in accelerating the speed of national turbine deployment.  By reducing installation and intervention costs for offshore devices, we plan to bring commercial tidal power arrays to the UK in the near future.”

National Renewable Energy Centre