The Floating Offshore Wind Power Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) of Japan and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on floating wind technology development.
The agreement, signed on 16 September, will see the organisations explore cooperation in establishing and managing an offshore test and demonstration site for floating wind technologies.
FLOWRA works with international partners to develop common floating wind technologies aimed at cutting costs and risks, while Orkney-based EMEC is the world’s leading accredited test centre for marine energy technologies.
Building on its experience in wave and tidal testing, EMEC has designed a floating offshore wind test site offering developers opportunities to prove performance and de-risk technologies in challenging metocean conditions.
FLOWRA chairperson Masakatsu Terasaki said: “It is a great honour for FLOWRA to collaborate with EMEC, an organisation with a proven track record and deep expertise. By combining our efforts, we aim to accelerate the development of core technologies for floating offshore wind, establish robust verification and evaluation methodologies, and contribute to the expansion of the floating offshore wind market.”
EMEC managing director Matthew Finn said: “Floating wind is set to play a major role in the global energy transition, and EMEC is committed to supporting its development. Our MoU with FLOWRA marks an exciting step forward in international collaboration, enabling knowledge exchange and accelerating innovation.”