The first call results relating to a €9 million EU funded FP7 MARINET (Marine Renewables Infrastructure Network) Project were announced in May this year. Tempest (German applicant) and Spar Buoy Wave Energy Converter (Portuguese applicant) were successful and will result in the projects being allowed access to Narec’s marine test facilities, specifically the large-scale wave test tank and 3MW turbine drive train from July 2012 onwards.
The second MARINET call will open on the 10th July and close on the 26th September 2012 with access to the facilities commencing in February 2013.
What Narec will offer:
Narec will provide 49 weeks of access to its testing facilities for marine prototype testing, tidal turbine drive train (3MW capacity) and electrical grid integration. The project offers significant contribution towards the costs of the test (up to €17,276 per week plus up to €1,000 travel and expenses allowance for each user group).
Narec facilities available for use under the project include:
Project MARINET aims to accelerate the development of marine renewable energy (wave, tidal and offshore wind) by coordinating marine research and development at all scales (small models through to prototype scales from laboratory through to open sea tests) and allowing researchers and developers access to specialist marine renewable energy centres across Europe.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND staff, July 9, 2012; Image: Narec