The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult officially unveiled its 7MW demonstration offshore wind turbine in Scotland’s Levenmouth on 29 February, in the presence of the Scottish Government Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing.
The Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine offers UK industry and academia an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of technologies as well as the operations and maintenance aspects of offshore wind turbines, with the ultimate goal of reducing the cost of energy.
ORE Catapult is also working with local partners, including Fife Council, Fife College, Levenmouth Academy, Skills Development Scotland and the Energy Skills Partnership, to develop and deliver educational and training programmes that will both support local young adults to move on to further and higher education and develop a unique curriculum to ensure local training programmes deliver employment-focused, in-demand skills to local people.
“Scotland’s research and development in renewables is unrivalled and the Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine adds to Scotland’s extensive portfolio of test facilities,” Minister Ewing said.
“The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will work with the offshore wind sector, Skills Development Scotland and the Energy Skills Partnership to ensure the knowledge is transferred to industry to help it develop our offshore wind resources, some of the best in the world. I am also pleased to see that the local community will benefit from the project through work with local schools and Fife College.”
The Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine, acquired by ORE Catapult from Samsung Heavy Industries in December 2015, is an open access offshore wind turbine dedicated to research, offering complementary opportunities for economic growth, training and development of skills vital for the future of the offshore wind industry, ORE Catapult said in a statement.
Andrew Jamieson, Chief Executive of ORE Catapult, said: “The Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine will play a major part in the development of future technologies to lower the cost of offshore wind. It offers opportunities for UK supply chain and technology development and, sitting so prominently at the heart of the Levenmouth communities, it is vital that the turbine also plays a role in locally developing and supporting the next generation of Scottish engineers, who will ensure that Fife enjoys a bright future thanks to renewable energy.”