14th February 2012 Toronto, Canada
UK announces Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre
The Technology Strategy Board (the UK’s national innovation agency) announced last week that a UK-wide consortium would set up the new Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre, with sites in Glasgow and Northumberland. You can read the press release here. Wind, wave and tidal power will be crucial components of the UK’s future energy mix if it is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and this centre aims to develop and commercialise those technologies.
With government funding of £50 M over five years, the centre will focus on making new technologies market-ready and collaborating with other centres of excellence in the UK and abroad. Here in Canada, the Science and Innovation Network is already working to strengthen links with research hubs on the east and west coasts as part of our delivery of the joint declaration. Watch out for some project announcements later in the year!
Here’s what the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable had to say about the announcement:
“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.”
“It is vital we invest in renewable energy now to gain maximum benefits in the future. In creating this centre we are taking the next step to transforming the UK into a low carbon economy.”
Glasgow is the perfect site for an OREC site. Scotland has already exceeded all its past targets for the generation of electricity from renewable sources, and recently led the way once again by protecting wind power subsidies at a time when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, egged on by the right wing of his party, is slashing funding for renewables and going for a “dash for gas”. Hats off to Scotland, and I hope Northumberland can achieve the same level of success.