SET 7: Participation in TPwind

This project supports the engagement in the European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPwind), including heading the sub-programme on offshore wind energy and coordinating with Norwegian entities. TPwind is an R&D network and fora with approximately 160 wind energy experts in five workgroups. TPwind was established in 2005/2006. It has achieved recognition in EU and contributes with suggestions and comments to the EC in their preparation of research, development and demonstration programmes. SINTEF Energi is heading the workgroup on offshore wind energy and is in the TPwind Steering Committee. This present project supports this activity and to promote topics of Norwegian interest, increase the Norwegian participation in EU projects and contribute to coordination between Norwegian and European research programmes. This is achieved. In particular, there has been an increase in the Norwegian participation in EU projects: Norwegian entities (research institutes, universities, industry) are partner in three FP7 projects on offshore wind energy that started in 2014, and in two new H2020 projects that started in 2015. The FP7 projects are IRPwind, BestPaths and LeanWind, and the H2020 projects are AWSOME and Lifes50+. The latter is headed by MARINTEK aiming to provide cost effective technology for floating substructures for 10MW wind turbines at water depths greater than 50 m. In the other projects Norwegian parties have significant roles, e.g. SINTEF Energi as WP lead for activity on offshore wind energy within IRPwind, and responsible for laboratory test of new HVDC technology in BestPaths, and in LeanWind a Norwegian SME is demonstrating a new technology for remote surveillance and maintenance of offshore wind turbines. The success in FP7 and H2020 demonstrate the value of engaging activity in European strategic fora like EERA JP wind and TPwind. It gives network and the finger on the pulse.

Planned activities include a) participation in TPwind and b) dissemination of information and coordination with Norwegian entities. Participation in TPwind includes: - Participation in the Steering Committee (John Olav Tande) - Chairing Working Group 4 on offshore wind energy technology (John Olav Tande) - Participating in Working Group 3 on grid integration (Magnus Korpås) Dissemination of information and coordination with Norwegian entities are given priority. This will in part be through NOWITECH ac tivities, including collaboration with NORCOWE and Arena industry clusters, and in part through dialogue with the Research Council of Norway and other stakeholders (e.g. OED, Energi21) via electronic media, telephone conferences and meetings. A Norwegian "shadow group" will be established with relevant representatives to ensure efficient communication. The Norwegian shadow group shall have two meetings per year that shall be open for all interested parties and will be announced in the EU-energy newsletter s prepared by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and other channels. Separate meetings / conference calls will be held with relevant RCN contacts for preparing shadow group meetings and related activities. The objective of the shadow group is to be a me eting place for dialogue to accomplish: - Coordination of Norwegian parties that participates in various strategic EU-forums; - Communication with stakeholders that are not active in the EU-arena, but have a potential interest in such activities; - Infor mation exchange with the RCN, in particular the RCN may inform about their activities in EII, preparation of EU call texts, mobilization towards EU application deadlines, etc. The activity in TPwind will be aligned with activity in EERA JP wind; on this John Olav Tande is heading the EERA sub-programme on offshore wind energy. SINTEF Energi AS is also involved in EERA SmartGrids, and WG3 shall align work with EEGI (European Electricity Grid Initiative)