Multi-million pound green technology centre to be located in Glasgow
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will help commercialise offshore wind, wave and tidal power
- Published in News.
£50m centre will focus on technologies for offshore wind, wave & tidal power
A new £50 million centre aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of green technologies will be based in Glasgow, the government has announced.
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will have its headquarters at the city's University of Strathclyde, with a second base at the National Renewable Energy Centre in north east England.
The centre will focus on technologies for offshore wind, wave and tidal power and is designed to bridge the gap between university research and full commercialisation.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: “Our offshore renewable sector can compete on a global scale and has huge potential for growth. If we can harness that, we will generate billions of pounds for the economy whilst creating thousands of job opportunities at the same time.
“The Catapult will be based in a Scottish world-class centre of excellence, part of a collaboration with a centre in the north east of England.”
Scotland's energy minister Fergus Ewing said: “The waters around these islands, and off Scotland in particular, offer the greatest offshore renewables resources in Europe.
“Building on that natural advantage, this new industry-led partnership - including Scotland's two major utilities - can help accelerate the development of clean green energy to power the continent sustainably.
“Major overseas companies such as Mitsubishi, Gamesa, Samsung, ABB, Alstom, E.ON and Vattenfall are already working with leading Scottish energy and engineering firms to invest in the development of pioneering wind and marine energy technologies.”
Professor Jim McDonald, principal of the University of Strathclyde and chairman of the Energy Technology Partnership, said: “I am delighted that this truly collaborative bid has been successful. By securing the UK Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, the country will build on our already globally competitive reputation for advances in renewable technology and deployment.
“Our world-class research base offers distinct advantages and will accelerate industrial innovation. We will help to develop and drive the industry over the coming 10 years and beyond.”
He added: “The activities of the ORE Catapult will provide the foundation for a large, vibrant and dynamic offshore renewables industry that is a global leader and a significant contributor to the nation's economic growth through the near and longer terms.”
Prof McDonald said the investment, along with the university's Technology and Innovation Centre, would make the site one of the largest concentrations of research and education in power and energy technologies in the world.