£6m centre keeps region at renewables forefront

THE North East has cemented its position as a world leader in the renewables sector with the opening a of a new £6.3m tech centre, business and civic leaders have declared.

- COREENA FORD Business Writer [e-mail]

Steve Foxley, ORE Catapult chief executive (left), and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness unveil a plaque at the official opening of the Technology Development Centre (TDC) at ORE Catapult's National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland.

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has opened its new Technology Development Centre in Blyth, Northumberland, boosting opportunities across the region for innovation in the offshore renewables industry.

The multimillion-pound two-storey facility will provide testing, validation and demonstration for firms working on products and services to support the sector, adding to the range of services already available at ORE Catapult's National Renewable Energy Centre in Northumberland.

The Technology Development Centre's new kit on offer to companies includes a 1MW drivetrain test rig to evaluate rotating machine components.