If you're serious about a career in renewable energy, it's important to keep abreast of the latest technological developments and ideas. Don't forget - as these technologies reach commercial viability, they are going to need new staff to help develop them.  Don't wait until you read about them in the newspapers - it's going to be too late then.

 

This information is from the Government's Technology Strategy Board, who are responsible for encouraging new investment in carbon reduction technologies.

 

 

Offshore Wind Energy Receives Boost

 

In January 2010, the Crown Estate (owner of the UK's coastal seabeds) granted rights for energy companies to develop the largest expansion of offshore wind energy in the world. The announcement follows the new 'Round 3' rights and could see an additional 32 GW of electricity being fed into the UK grid, with the potential for an extra 6,400 turbines. It is predicted that, by 2020, investment in UK offshore wind could be worth £75 million and support up to 70,000 jobs.

 

Furthermore, the Government has announced £3 million of grants to support the offshore wind supply chain. DECC and BIS have awarded funding to Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (£1.5 million) and Tees Alliance Group Ltd (£1.5 million).

 

 

Carbon Abatement

 

The Technology Strategy Board, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Northern Way partnership are to invest £15 million on behalf of the Government to develop innovations and technologies to help reduce emissions from power stations and CO₂ intensive industries.

 

Carbon abatement technologies will tackle CO₂ emissions from large, single-point sources, primarily fossil-fuel power plants and large process industries (eg petrochemicals, cement and metals production). As a result of the funding, over 30 new research and development projects and studies will be supported.

 

 

Wave and Tidal Renewable Energy

 

The UK has for some time claimed a world lead in wave and tidal technologies, and a workshop on wave and tidal renewable energy installation and connection issues is to be held on Tuesday 18 May 2010 in Aberdeen. You can find out more at the the EG&S KTN website.

 

Micro-renewable Energy Initiative

 

The New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) has secured nearly £1 million to help SMEs exploit micro-renewable technologies and opportunities. The project will cover a wide range of micro-generation technologies. The support for SMEs will focus on innovation, advice and guidance to develop new and emerging micro-renewable technologies, as well as providing support to encourage micro-renewable uptake.

 

 

New Investment to Develop UK's First Commercial-Scale Tidal Farm

Marine Current Turbines (MCT), the developer of SeaGen, the world's first and largest grid-connected system that extracts energy from tidal currents, has raised £3.5 million towards its plans to deploy the UK's first commercial tidal energy farm in UK waters in the next two years. Funders include Carbon Trust Investments Ltd, EDF Energy, and a group of private investors.

 

Carbon Reduction Technology for Road Vehicles

 

Not strictly renewable energy, but it's worth knowing that the government is planning  strategic investment of  £12 million in the development of new technology to accelerate the reduction of CO₂ emissions from road vehicles.

 

The investment will be made in 16 proof-of-concept studies, which will last up to one year, and six longer-running full research and development projects. The total value of the research will be in the region of £25 million, with the remaining funding provided by the organisations taking part in the work.

 

Further information

 

You can get lots more useful information on technological development, from the Technolgy Strategy Board website: