Renewables research programme delivers £200m worth of benefits

A research programme that brings together academia and industry to address renewable energy challenges has delivered £200m worth of benefits.

The programme, which launched in 2013 links the Technology and Innovation Centre Low Carbon Power and Energy Programme to the University of Strathclyde’s technical expertise.

ScottishPower, SSE renewables and Wood provide the funding for the programme.

The results from the first phase of the programme have been estimated to deliver a cumulative benefit of £200m from a total budget of £3.72m.

The project has focused on reducing the costs and the risks associated with both onshore and offshore wind projects, it also included 13 separate research projects.

One project has monitored the condition of wind turbines, it provides technical information to help reduce waste and to support local operations and maintenance jobs, as well as allowing continued electricity generation.

Another project has worked to make it cheaper to install wind turbines in the sea by using data to make the decision when its best to send out boats to the turbines.

A system has been developed to ensure that the grid can be kept informed of wind farms capability which ensures that they can feed into the market.

Professor Stephen McArthur, deputy associate principal at the University of Strathclyde said: ‘The programme has focused on transforming low carbon innovations generated at the University into new tools and capabilities for our industrial partners.’

‘It aims to unlock new revenue streams for existing wind farms, as well as reducing the cost of installations at offshore wind farms by better understanding the logistics involved.’

‘Many of the outputs have led to significant improvements nationally, including the more efficient running of both onshore and offshore wind farms.’

Barry Carruthers, head of Innovation, Sustainability & Quality at ScottishPower said: ‘ScottishPower truly value the collaboration. Real challenges are met with new insights and solutions which are developed and deployed in order to help us all deliver affordable, low carbon energy systems.’

‘The programme partners continually show how industry and academia can  collaborate to find answers to the challenges of both today and tomorrow.’

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