A new offshore wind institute will be launched today by three Scottish universities to help develop the sector in the North Sea.
The Offshore Renewables Institute (ORI), which will bring together expertise from Aberdeen, Dundee and the Robert Gordon universities, will be based in Dundee.
The three east coast universities will collaborate to build up the offshore wind industry both in the North Sea and worldwide.
The institute’s launch will be made at the two-dayAll-Energy 2013 renewable-energy show at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The event, the largest of its kind in the UK, expects to attract about 580 exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors from 50 countries.
The ORI’s first director will be professor Paul Mitchell, of Aberdeen University, who will say: “The UK and Scottish governments have set ambitious targets for 2020 for offshore wind deployment.
“This presents us with an array of challenges, and not only in terms of the improving technology.
“We need to look at the environmental impact of such large developments, the legal issues, safety of course, and how we can increase efficiency and reduce costs over the lifetime of a project.”
The institute plans to provide support to the offshore renewables sector through consultancy, research, policy advice and professional development training.
The 13th All-Energy show began last night with a trade reception to welcome international visitors to Aberdeen.
About 180 delegates attended the event at the city’s Trinity Hall hosted by the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg) and the Press and Journal.
Areg chief operating officer Morag McCorkindale said: “All-Energy attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. As such it makes a vital contribution to the local economy, business tourism trade and jobs in our energy industry, not to mention the revenue generated in follow-up business generated for the local energy industry.”
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing will also announce at the event this morning that the £18million Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund will now be used to support wave projects.
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