University of Dundee opens Marine Renewables Test Centre

The University of Dundee has opened a new Marine Renewables Test Centre, which will be the house for development, design and testing of marine renewable construction materials and prototype foundations.

The £2m test centre in Dundee builds on the Dundee’s expertise in the development of technology and the modelling of novel foundation solutions as well as be integral to the provision of demonstration and certification of marine materials and structures.

It will complement the recognised facilities provided by Flowave TT at the University of Edinburgh and other testing facilities offered at European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

Marine Renewables Test Centre head professor Rod Jones said that Scotland is well placed to deliver offshore wind and marine renewables and meet its ambitious targets for 2020 but there are still some significant challenges to be addressed.

"Although considerable progress has been made in developing and manufacturing turbines, the main challenges now lie in the design, commissioning and deployment of key structural components such as concrete foundations for offshore wind farms," Jones added.

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing said, "The creation and launch of the Marine Renewables Test Centre located at the University of Dundee is a further demonstration of Scotland’s continued commitment to the development and future commercialisation of the marine renewables industry in Scotland."

The European Regional Development Fund has provided £833,000 funding, while the European Regional Development Fund is offering more than £160,000 to support the Offshore Renewables Institute, a partnership between the Universities of Dundee, Aberdeen and Robert Gordon.