The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has signed a contract to provide advice on the development of a marine energy test facility in Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan.
EMEC will advise on the infrastructure needed to develop a test site, from subsea cables, and grid connection to resource data instrumentation, as well as the wider infrastructure.
A review of the marine renewables industry will also be undertaken, alongside support in business planning, operational procedures, and health and safety.
EMEC commercial director Oliver Wragg said: “Just as EMEC stimulated interest and investment for marine energy in the UK in 2003, a Japanese test centre has the potential to kick-start the sector in Japan. And that will benefit wave and tidal technologies currently in development as there will be a wider international market for them when they reach commercialisation.”
Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association director Makoto Takahira said: “The creation of Nagasaki Marine Energy Centre is an important step to accelerate development of ocean renewable energy in Japan as well as to create a new marine industrial cluster in Nagasaki.
“We would like to learn from EMEC how to effectively manage the marine energy test centre and exchange information with supply chain companies in Orkney.
“We are keen to contribute to the development of ocean renewable energy not only in Japan but also in Asia.”
Image: subsea cables (EMEC)
