The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to research technology development cooperation in the sector
The Floating Offshore Wind Power Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) of Japan and The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to research technology development cooperation in floating offshore wind
The possibilities of the collaboration will be explored in establishing and managing an offshore test and demonstration site for developing floating wind technology.
FLOWRA is a technical research association that works with overseas organisations on researching and developing basic technologies for floating offshore wind. EMEC, a not-for-profit company based in Orkney, Scotland, is an accredited test laboratory for demonstrating new marine energy technologies.
Expanding on its experience with wave and tidal testing, EMEC has designed a floating offshore wind test and demonstration site, which will provide floating wind developers opportunities to prove performance and de-risk technologies in challenging metocean conditions.
Masakatsu Terasaki, chairperson of the board, FLOWRA, said, “EMEC is recognised as the world’s first centre for testing power generation technologies in real-sea conditions, serving as a leading global hub for innovation in the marine renewable energy sector and driving the development and commercialisation of new technologies. What makes EMEC truly remarkable is not only its role as a testing centre, but also its strong research and development networks, its contribution to regional economic growth, and its active engagement with local communities.”
“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, ultimately helping to realise a sustainable society.”
Matthew Finn, managing director, EMEC, 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.”
“By leveraging our experience in offshore renewables with the aim of expanding our testing infrastructure, including a new floating wind demonstration site in Scotland, we aim to help developers de-risk technologies in real-world conditions before large-scale deployment. Together, we want to bridge the gap between innovation and investment, advancing the global floating wind market.”
