Executive Viewpoint
Stuart Herbert, NAREC: Significant interest coming in from around the world
18 August 2010
In this edition of Tidal Today we speak to Stuart Herbert, Business Development Manager Engineering & Drive Train Services at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC) about the centre’s £15m marine energy testing facility to be built in Blyth and the type of interest that has been generated since the project was announced.
The 3 MW wave and tidal drive train technology development and testing facility, Nautilus, is now under construction at NAREC.
Project Nautilus is the first of a number of site developments planned over the next two years, which will also see the wave and tidal drive train test facility based around the existing dry docks, de-risking the test phase whilst being able to re-create real-life conditions.
Investment in onshore infrastructure alone is expected to exceed £50m and together with a proposed offshore wind turbine demonstration site, which has now been awarded by the Crown Estate, could establish Narec globally as “the independent technology development hub for offshore wind and marine renewables,” Narec explains.
While it is not part of Stuart Herbert’s role, NAREC did offer us some feedback on the offshore demo site that is also in progress.
"We have applied for a lease for the proposed facility from The Crown Estate and are awaiting their decision, while a number of high profile manufacturers have already made solid enquiries for the limited spaces. We have also recently commenced consultation with stakeholders ahead of formal planning and marine permitting submissions next year."
Tidal Today: How long did it take to get the green light for the £15m National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) marine energy testing facility to be built in Blyth?
Stuart Herbert: The funding was announced in July 2009.
Narec’s proposal was put together over several months and we were able to draw on the knowledge and expertise gained during the market assessment and design phases for the similar but larger wind drive train test facility.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) named Narec as a beneficiary of strategic innovation funding of £10m to develop the marine renewables industry.
Tidal Today: If this is going to be the largest facility of its kind in the world once built, how many testing projects can be taking place simultaneously? And are you anticipating to draw overseas companies to Blyth?
Stuart Herbert: The marine energy drive train testing facility will be the only rig dedicated to marine drive train testing in the world.
The rig will be able to test one device at a time but we will have space to prepare the next device while an operational test is taking place.
This open access facility will allow developers to test and improve the reliability of their devices throughout the development process from medium scale prototypes through to full-scale commercial devices, at significantly lower cost and risk in comparison to sea testing.
It will also be employed for testing engineering changes in commercial scale devices, aimed at cost reduction.
Nautilus will significantly enhance the UK’s technology development capability in this area, enabling the growth of the industry, and underpin its ambition to see significant deployment of technology by 2020 and beyond.
There is significant interest in the facility and I have had enquiries from companies based in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia.
In order to be able to define the advanced testing that will be required, it is necessary to understand the loading produced by the flow and wave characteristics around the UK.
In the development of the 3MW drive train test rig, Narec will take high resolution flow measurements at sites around the UK and use this data to inform a marine drive model.
Image: Blythe Illustration
