The location of a
new £50 million centre that will accelerate the commercialisation
of green technologies was announced by the Business Secretary
Vince Cable today.
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will be headquartered at
the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow with a second base at the
National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in the North East of England.
The national 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. It will have a UK
wide remit, and build strong links with centres of excellence such
as Wave Hub and the marine energy park in the South West of
England.
Speaking at the launch of the Catapult in Glasgow, 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 centre will be based in a Scottish world-class
centre of excellence, part of a collaboration with a centre in the
North East of England.”
Today’s announcement is part of the Government’s investment in a
network of Catapult centres across a number of sectors. The £140
million High Value Manufacturing Catapult is now operating across
seven locations around the UK. A £50 million Cell Therapy Catapult
will be established in London and a Satellite Applications
Catapult and Connected Digital Economy Catapult will be set up
later this year.
The Catapult centre programme is managed by the Technology
Strategy Board as part of a wider support package for innovation.
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board said:
“Our reputation and expertise in offshore engineering, gained
through many years of commercial North Sea oil activity, makes the
UK an excellent base for innovation relevant to the emerging
offshore renewable energy sector.
“The generation and supply of renewable energy is now a major
component of global energy and economic policies. UK businesses
have an opportunity to be a significant part in this global industry.”
The Secretary of State announced the decision to create an
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Liverpool in May 2011. It is
expected to be open by summer this year.
The centre will be delivered by a consortium comprised of the
Carbon Trust, Narec and Ocean Energy innovation (itself an
industrially led group with strong links into the world class
capabilities developed at universities such as Strathclyde and Edinburgh).
Professor Jim McDonald, Chairman of the Energy Technology Board
and Principal of the University of Strathclyde, 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 ten years and beyond.
“We aim to make the ORE Catapult the world’s pre-eminent centre
of expertise for rapid development and commercialisation of highly
innovative technologies that will substantially reduce the cost of
offshore renewable energy.”
Notes to editors:
1) The Technology Strategy Board focuses on the challenges that
shape future market opportunities, bringing together innovators in
business and research for business benefit.
2) The first Catapult (previously known as Technology and
Innovation Centres), in High Value Manufacturing, opened for
business in October 2011, less than a year after the Prime
Minister announced the £200m+ Technology and Innovation Centre
programme. The Catapult in Cell Therapy (to be located in London)
is on schedule to open by summer 2012. The Catapult in Satellite
Applications, announced in January 2012 is due to open in Autumn
2012. The Connected Digital Economy Catapult was also announced in
January and brings the total announced so far to five.
3) The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission
to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing
specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut
carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon
technologies. By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to
key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low
carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.
www.carbontrust.co.uk
4) Narec has invested £150 million to create the UK's
national translational research centre for accelerating grid
integration of renewable energy systems and catalysing the
development and deployment of offshore renewables - wind, wave and
tidal energy generation technologies. www.narec.co.uk
5) Ocean Energy Innovation comprises Scottish and Southern
Electricity, Scottish Power Renewables, Energy Technology
Partnership, Advanced Manufacturing Institute (Sheffield),
Scottish European Green Energy Centre, European Marine Energy
Centre, Scottish Renewables, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and
Islands Enterprise.
6) For more information about the centre, go to www.innovateuk.org
7) BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
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BIS Press Office
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Matt Barker
Phone: 020 7215 5946
matt.barker@bis.gsi.gov.uk