The UK’s marine energy researchers are joining forces in a national centre to help wave and tidal power devices move from test tanks into the sea at commercial scale. The problem is straightforward: the UK has set a target of installing 2 gigawatts of marine energy capacity by 2020, but the sector faces technical and cost hurdles that slow deployment. Devices must survive harsh ocean conditions, generate electricity reliably, and compete with other renewables. The centre—UKCMER—coordinates academic labs, industry partners, and international teams to tackle these bottlenecks through shared research, not isolated projects. If the work succeeds, marine energy could become a dependable part of the UK’s electricity mix, adding clean power to the grid from a resource the country has in abundance: its coastline. The centre also trains PhD students and offers professional development courses for current engineers, building the skilled workforce needed to sustain the industry beyond 2020. An annual assembly and industry-led advisory forum ensure the research stays focused on real-world problems, not academic detours.
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The UK Centre for Marine Energy Research (UKCMER) is being funded as the third phase of Research Councils UK's flagship SuperGen marine programme. UKCMER aims to:1. conduct world-class fundamental and applied research that assists the marine energy sector in the UK to reliably and dependably accelerate deployment rates and ensure sustained growth in generating capacity to meet the 2020 targets,2. expand and more effectively operate an inclusive network of academic researchers, industry partners and international collaborators, and3. continue to provide the highest quality of doctoral training and knowledge transfer in partnership with industry to build intellectual and human capacity for the marine energy sector.The Centre will achieve these aims through three closely integrated activities: Firstly the operation of a network of excellence which draws together marine energy researchers and developers from UK academia, industry, and the wider international community; Secondly, undertaking a focussed and directed programme of industry driven fundamental research to address issues affecting the push to meet the ambitious deployment target of installing 2GW of generating capacity by 2020; and, finally, the provision of a training programme to develop the knowledge and understanding of both the next next and present generations of marine energy professionals. The five year research programme will be guided by the marine energy industry, through a formally constituted Research Advisory Forum, to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the sector. Based on this advice, a series of thematic workshops is being organised to shape future research programmes and build teams of researchers and developers who are able to seek funding from other organisations, such as the technology strategy board (TSB), energy technologies institute (ETI), and European Commission (EC). The research output from the Centre and updates from project and technology developers will be presented at the Annual Assembly, held in November each year. The bi-annual, week long, residential short courses, which form part of the doctoral training programme, are open to participants from industry as well as PhD and EngD students and offer continuing professional development (CPD) credits. In addition to the PhD students funded by EPSRC as part of this project, the Centre is engaging with the KTP management centres to fund additional EngD studentships through knowledge transfer partnership with industry.
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