Five Quarter’s power project uses up-to-the-minute technology to make clean electricity by tapping into vast reserves of coal off the North East coast.
It could share the same subsea pipeline as Teesside Low Carbon (TLC), a major power plant and carbon storage project planned for Teesside – and help lever investment for both.
A rescue demonstration from a 20 metre high structure, rescues using rope access and lifting structures weighing hundreds of pounds were just some of the activities showcased today at the official launch of a new purpose-built skills centre on North Tyneside.
The specialist centre is being developed by Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) in collaboration with Maersk Training to provide a one-stop-shop for training within the renewable energy, offshore, maritime and industrial sectors. Providing more than 60,000 square feet of bespoke space, the recently completed centre is one of the highest rated, most well equipped industrial training facilities in theUK.
The National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) has announced the formation of a new photovoltaic division – Narec Solar Ltd.
Muckle LLP have assisted Narec in the formation of the new company following an investment made by a European partner. This will now allow Narec to continue to provide solar energy products and services to clients around the world.
Narec Solar will work with their new partners to grow a global client base for solar cells, solar cell modules, research and development, and consultancy services. Narec have restructured its core operations to focus on the development of offshore renewable technologies – wind, wave and tidal. The sale was structured to create a new standalone business, with Narec also maintaining an ongoing interest in the new company – so the links and support remain.
A consortium bid from Carbon Trust, National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) and Ocean Energy Innovation has been selected by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to play a pivotal role in setting up the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. It will receive up to £10m per annum over five years (£50 million) from the Technology Strategy Board.
The new Catapult Centre, which will open in summer 2012 and will according to Narec, reinforce the UK’s position as the global leader in offshore renewable energy by significantly accelerating the development and market deployment of new renewable energy technologies. The Catapult’s Operations Centre will be based at the Narec Technology Park in Blyth, Northumberland.
Tata steel have announced that they are to supply the offshore wind sector with tubular steel via its Hartlepool tube mills. Tata have also told a recent conference that over the next ten years, the need for steel for wind turbine foundations would come to dwarf anything ever seen in oil and gas.
Tata is also establishing a supply base for steel tubular sections for use in the construction of wind turbine foundation structures, known as jacket foundations. These new jacket foundations are much lighter than the traditional type and can be manufactured more quickly. Tata does not intend to manufacture jackets but will provide all the parts in kit form.
Tata’s investment at Hartlepool is more than £9m, following a £7m injection in August 2011 to improve the welding capabilities of its mills in the town. This comes at a time when the offshore wind industry is enjoying massive growth, with several sites planned in British waters alone not least the massive Dogger Bank project, where 2500 – 3000 wind turbines are planned. Continue reading
The departure of Chris Huhne on Friday has prompted calls from a number of Conservative back benchers for a dramatic cut in Government subsidies for wind energy projects, and for new planning powers to make it easier for residents to object to new onshore wind-farms.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and new Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey both attended an event yesterday with the Deputy Prime Minister confirming his support for wind energy, defending subsidies to help renewable energy compete with fossil fuels. This has however, highlighted what appears to be a growing split in the coaltion over energy policy.
Nick Clegg also stated that the savviest states understood that going for growth meant going ‘green’, with low-carbon markets being the next hurdle in the race to be the number one country in global excellence. Ed Davey meanwhile, stated that he was a lifelong supporter of renewable and wind power, with onshore and offshore wind power having a real place in a balanced mix of energy generation.