Monthly Archives: May 2014
On the 8th of May, the European Commission presented its Action Plan for Blue Growth. It proposes to deliver a digital map of the entire seabed of European waters by 2020 and create an online information platform – to be operational before the end of 2015 – on marine research projects across the Horizon 2020 programme as well as nationally funded marine research, and to share results from completed projects. A Blue Economy Business and Science Forum will be created, which will involve the private sector, scientists and NGOs to help shape the blue economy of the future and share ideas and results (its first meeting will take place on the fringe of the 2015 Maritime Day event in Piraeus, Greece). The Action Plan also aims to encourage research, business and education actors to map out the needs and skills for tomorrow’s workforce in the maritime sector by 2016 and will examine the possibility of major players from the research, business and education community to form a Knowledge and Innovation Community (or KIC) for the blue economy after 2020.
The National Energy Accord – trial and error The National Energy Accord still is causing a stir. During the Dutch Energy Day 2014 on the 26th of June the focus will be on the actual execution of the National Energy Accord. You can listen to eleven top rated speakers; including Ed Nijpels, trailblazer for the National Energy Accord. Robin Fransman and Herman Postma will focus on the (green) financing for the Energy Accord. And finally Ferd Crone – one of the architects of the Splitsingswet (forcing energy companies to split different activities into different companies and assuring governance of the energy networks) – will share his insights on the current state of affairs. The afternoon conference will be followed by a boat cruise with diner along the IJ; an excellent way to exchange thoughts with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere. For more information please visit: Dutch Energy Day 2014
A UNIVERSITY spin-out company is poised to become the first tidal energy technology developer to produce commercially viable electricity. Tests are now being carried out at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney on a turbine device and mooring system developed by renewable energy engineers in Glasgow. Nautricity, a company which emerged from Strathclyde University, has spent 18 months building its first commercial-scale device known as a Contra Rotating Marine Turbine (Cormat). With the help of a £250,000 Smart Scotland grant from Scottish Enterprise, it has also developed and patented a tethered-based mooring system, called a Hydrobuoy, that ensures the Cormat devices remain steady in strong currents. Cameron Johnstone, the company’s co-founder and chief executive, said testing the device at full scale in real-life conditions was an important step forward that would produce valuable data to allow the company to move to full commercial deployment. “Once we have demonstrated the technology here and shown that it can provide affordable electricity, we will then build out at home and overseas,” he said. “In order to be able to compete abroad in the future, it’s essential that we have a robust, indigenous market from which to launch our international business development.” Johnstone said the firm was “doing all of the right things in developing lower-cost, next-generation technology” through a comprehensive testing programme and was gathering the data to ensure the devices taken to market work effectively and can compete with other forms of energy generation. He said conventional tidal devices resemble wind turbines constructed on the seabed, but they incur “enormous deployment and engineering costs”. Cormat, he said, is a lighter and more compact device, tethered to the seabed and held in tension by a sub-surface float. The turbines can be used in depths of up to 500 metres and, because they are closely spaced and contra-rotating rotors move in opposite directions, they remain steady in the face of strong tidal flows. Source: The Scotsman
The EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is a leading event dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. It will take place in Brussels and across Europe from 23rd to 27th June 2014. On Wednesday the 25th of June the Action Group ‘Energy & Water Works’ will organise an interesting programme with forum discussions and talks about the newly started action group and the latest developments in the field of energy and water. During this seminar the experiences of several projects in different phases of the innovation cycle (research, development, market, exports) and challenges relating to governance, financing and innovation will be addressed. Seminar Energy & Water Works, Energising Sustainable Deltas Location: House of the Dutch Provinces, Trierstraat 59-61, Brussels Date: Wednesday 25th June 2014 Time: 13.30 – 16.30 hrs. Register: You can register here. About the Action Group Energy & Water Works With support of the European Innovation Partnership on Water, the action group ‘Energy & Water Works – Energizing sustainable deltas’, started its activities this year. Its main goal is to enhance European interest in innovative crossovers between energy and water in the development of policy, markets and knowledge. About the EU Sustainable Energy Week Launched in 2006 as an initiative of the European Commission, the EUSEW has become a reference point for public authorities, energy agencies, private companies, NGOs and industry associations engaged in helping to meet the EU’s energy and climate goals. For those interested in renewable and efficient energy, this event has become the place to be. For more information on EUSEW please visit: http://www.eusew.eu
The latest newsletter of Energising deltas has just arrived. In this issue we are looking forward to our Open Door day for Energising delta’s as part of the ‘Europe around the corner’-manifestation. During this day visitors will be able to get an impression of the Tidal Testing Centre at the Afsluitdijk. We also have a look back at the Hannover Messe in this issue and you can get to meet our partners Energy Valley and the Action Group Energy & Water Works. Furthermore we look at a workshop we have organized on European Funding Possibilities. So enjoy your read. Read the newsletter online (link opens in new browser window) and subscribe to our newsletter today.
Deltares will organize a special meeting for SME’s which are active in the delta technology sector. Innovation and cooperation with the world of science will be a focal point. During this meeting entrepreneurs will get information about the plans of the Topsector Water and Climate-KIC and how they can participate. Besides presentations and best practices there will also be time to discuss the possibilities for financing projects. Innovation voucher of 25.000 euro Climate-Kic will also host the competition Business in Water allowing SME’s to pitch their idea for an innovation. The best pitch will be rewarded with an innovation voucher of 25.000 euro. The event will be held on the 11th of June from 14.00 to 16.30 at Deltares in Delft. Entrance is free, but you need to register. Click here for more information (in Dutch). Source: Deltares.nl
Diagram that shows the working approach of the Action Group ‘Energy & Water Works’ (Pdf, 8 Mb)
At Friday 9 May the Tidal Testing Centre will open its doors because of “Europe round the corner” viewings for all interested persons who would like to know more about the project Energising deltas. From 14.00 – 16.00 hrs you are more than welcome to hear and see for yourself what it is all about at Sluiskolkkade 2 in Den Oever. Pieter Bergmeijer, coordinator of the project and director of Tidal Testing Centre (TTC), will tell you all about the Afsluitdijk, Brouwersdam and Oosterschelde. The 3 business cases where energy from water will be applied. Furthermore, information material will be available. Also videos about the project are shown. An animation shows the water turbines and blue energy pilot plant at the Afsluitdijk. And the market parties working together in the project – Tocardo, REDstack, Antea Group/Strukton – are interviewed. EU funding Energising deltas is partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union (Opportunities for West). The European Commission and the Dutch government stimulate the EU funded projects to show what the project is about. About Energising deltas Energising deltas (Energiedijken in Dutch) combines sustainable energy generation with water safety and water management into an innovative export product. Three companies (Tocardo, REDstack, Strukton) are closely collaborating with three research organisations (Deltares, ECN, EUR) to gain knowledge about optimising energy production while minimising environmental impact. Together with Tidal Testing Centre for coordination and Energy Valley Foundation for national and international positioning this project will give the Dutch trade and industry a head start on the world market. Energising deltas opens it doors at 9 May At Friday 9 May the Tidal Testing Centre will open its doors because of “Europe round the corner” viewings for all interested persons who would like to know more about the project Energising deltas. From 14.00 – 16.00 hrs you are more than welcome to hear and see for yourself what it is all about at Sluiskolkkade 2 in Den Oever. Pieter Bergmeijer, coordinator of the project and director of Tidal Testing Centre (TTC), will tell you all about the Afsluitdijk, Brouwersdam and Oosterschelde. The 3 business cases where energy from water will be applied. Furthermore, information material will be available. Also videos about the project are shown. An animation shows the water turbines and blue energy pilot plant at the Afsluitdijk. And the market parties working together in the project – Tocardo, REDstack, Antea Group/Strukton – are interviewed. EU funding Energising deltas is partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union (Opportunities for West). The European Commission and the Dutch government stimulate the EU funded projects to show what the project is about. About Energising deltas Energising deltas (Energiedijken in Dutch) combines sustainable energy generation with water safety and water management into an innovative export product. Three companies (Tocardo, REDstack, Strukton) are closely collaborating with three research organisations (Deltares, ECN, EUR) to gain knowledge about optimising energy production while minimising environmental impact. Together with Tidal Testing Centre for coordination and Energy Valley Foundation for national and international positioning this project will give the Dutch trade and industry a head start on the world market.
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