Uniting EU offshore renewable energy testing facilities to accelerate development and realise potential

The world is facing a significant shift in all aspects of energy supply and the vast potential of offshore renewable energy is gradually being realised with the support of projects such as MARINERG-i. This will be an Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Research Infrastructure, setting out to become the leading internationally Distributed Research Infrastructure in the ORE sector, with a network of test facilities spread across Europe. 

MARINERG-I, which is led by MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, will provide significant support to the EU Green Deal, strengthening European scientific and engineering expertise and fostering innovation in ORE technologies. By consolidating investment in infrastructure and expertise across Europe, MARINERG-i will offer the best quality service and will act as a magnet to attract further funding.

Following a successful application, MARINERG-i is one of 11 new Research Infrastructures to be added to the ESFRI 2021 roadmap. The ESFRI European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures for the next 10-20 years, stimulates the implementation of these facilities and arguably contains the best European science facilities based on a thorough evaluation and selection procedure. The roadmap will receive formal approval September 2021 with an official publication launch in December 2021.

Led by the MaREI Centre at University College Cork, MARINERG-i is currently supported by Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, with considerable support from facilities within France, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Germany. The team are now embarking on a preparatory phase, establishing the legal, governance, scientific and business components required to implement the MARINERG-i Research Infrastructure.