UK and Chinese researchers will work together on five projects to develop the next generation of offshore renewable-energy (ORE) technologies.

The UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (www.nerc.ac.uk) said that the three-year projects will use environmental science, engineering and technology to tackle “key challenges affecting the development of ORE systems, such as offshore wind, wave and tide facilities.”

The projects — which have been funded as part of the Joint UK-China Offshore Renewable Energy programme — will also look to maximise the environmental and socio-economic benefits of ORE systems.

In addition, the NERC said that they will demonstrate the potential of ORE technologies to provide a stable power supply for island and coastal communities.

The projects are supported with nearly £4 million in funding from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council and the NERC.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (www.nsfc.gov.cn) is also providing support.

Richard Harrington, the UK’s minister for energy and industry, said in a statement: “The UK is a world leader in offshore wind.

"This £4 million investment will support collaborative research into the next generation of offshore technologies with one of our largest global trading partners, unlocking further opport-nities for projects across the UK and the
rest of the world.”

The NSFC’s president, Yang Wei, said that further advancing China’s renewable-energy sector is a crucial part of its 13th five-year plan. It will help to “drive future economic growth and advance the cause of low-carbon development”.