Narec to Deliver Technology Innovation for Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

The National Renewable Energy Centre, Narec , will manage and deliver two pilot projects on behalf of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, focusing on Offshore Cables, and Performance & Reliability issues.

Currently, onshore transmission and distribution networks have operational performance benchmarking systems in place allowing utilities and asset owners to contribute and share performance data. These databases inform project justifications whilst prioritising and optimising future investment. The Offshore Cables project will examine how a similar system can be established for offshore renewable energy subsea power cables as well as assessing other electrical infrastructure components.

The Performance & Reliability project will examine the existing data sources, assess how other organisations or countries release this information, and develop and implement a market engagement programme that will unlock the knowledge trapped in unique project formats. The project team will draw on existing relations across science, technology and engineering to exploit current industry efforts and align them more effectively.

The Performance & Reliability, and Offshore Cables projects are currently delivering a market engagement plan with system operators and project developers, which will be followed by industry workshops to clearly develop the projects’ value proposition to define the associated investment proposals.

In addition, the Carbon Trust will deliver two projects related to the development of a Marine Farm Accelerator and Standardisation. These projects support the Catapult’s plan to drive cost reduction and innovation, and accelerate the growth and commercialisation of offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies.

Each project was identified, prioritised and appraised on its impact on cost of energy production, materiality, UK benefit and risk, and, along with other projects in the pipeline, will eventually lead to full programmes of activity and services for the Catapult.

The pilots will explore the roles each of these areas play in fuelling innovation, promoting competition, lowering technology costs and accelerating market growth.