SET9: Participation in EERA JP wind energy (EERA wind) 2016-2018

The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) is an association of European universities and research institutes. EERA is recognised in the EU Energy Technology Plan (SET-plan) as an important tool for the coordination of European research. EERA is organized into 18 Joint Programms that each address relevant technology areas within the energy sector. EERA Joint Programme Wind Energy (JPWIND) has since started in 2010 been in powerful development. JPWIND now has 50 organisations as members and collects virtually all major European research institutes and the universities withiin wind power research and development. The activity is organised in the number of subprograms (SPs), where John Tande at SINTEF Energy leads SP6: Offshore Balance of Plant. EERA JPWIND's vision is to be a globally leading wind energy R&D organisation. The mission is to develop a world-leading European wind power research and innovation environment. This project supports a) participation in EERA JPWIND and the management of SP Offshore and B) participation in relevant Norwegian information and coordination efforts. The activity relating to offshore wind and grid is considered by strategic importance for Norway with great opportunities for value creation. Offshore wind for an international market is a priority in ENERGI21's strategy and it recommends an increased research and innovation effort within the area. Valuable results have been achieved. The European research agenda and the Norwegian are now well aligned within wind power. Emphasis is placed on many of the same topics as in Energi21, and priority is given in areas where Norwegian R&D and industrial partners can make significant contributions. In general, the Norwegian research organizations and industry are recognized as attractive partners in H2020 projects, and in particular SINTEF and NTNU have achieved recognition as internationally leading research actors within offshore wind. Participation in the management of EERA JPWIND gives the network and the finger on the pulse. The largest Norwegian research communities in offshore wind participate in EERA JPWIND. SINTEF Energy leads SP Offshore and participates actively in the management of EERA JPWIND. The other Norwegian partners (SINTEF Ocean, Sintef AS, IFE, NTNU, Norce (formerly CMR), UiB and UiS) are associated but still active in EERA JPWIND activities with participation in workshops, etc. UiS is a new associated partner approved by EERA JPWIND steering committee in 2018. The dissemination of information and coordination with Norwegian actors is a priority. This is carried out partly through NOWITECH activity, cooperation with NORCOWE and Arena industrial clusters, and partly through dialogue with the Research Council and other key actors. The cooperation with the Research Council is perceived as very positive and rewarding for the involvement of Norwegian actors and for the influence of EU research strategy and forthcoming proposals. An essential work has been undertaken to inform broadly about EERA JPWIND, e.g. through the arrangement of the annual DeepWind R&D conference every January, workshops in the series Industry meets Science and workshops directly under the auspices of EERA SP offshore. Additional meetings are also carried out to follow up and coordinate efforts against H2020 calls. The leadership of EERA JPWIND was renewed in 2018 through a process of application and voting in the steering committee for JPWIND. John Tande at SINTEF Energy was then re-elected as chairman of SP Offshore for a new four-year period. Increased Norwegian participation in the EU has been achieved in the field of offshore wind. Examples of new EU H2020 project with Norwegian participation/management allocated/started in the period 2016-2018 are Promotion, TotalControl, Marinerg-I, Marinet2, MegaRoller, Dacomat, UPWARDS and SET-Wind. At strategic level, EERA JPWIND works close up with the European Commission and ETIPwind with input to the research topics and development of roadmaps. We understand that the EU Commission considers the work within EERA JPWIND and SP offshore as important, and they follow positively up with participation in meetings etc.

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The objective is to a) participate in EERA JP Wind Energy including heading SP Offshore Wind Energy and b) participate in relevant Norwegian information and coordination activities. The following results are expected: - promoting topics of particular Norwegian interest - increased Norwegian participation in EU research projects - alignment of Norwegian and EU research programmes - new formulation / applications of joint EERA wind projects Planned activities for the objective presented above include: a) heading SP Offshore wind energy, b) participation in the management of the EERA JP wind energy, c) dissemination of information and coordination with Norwegian entities. The activities include cooperation with several Norwegian research entities that are affiliated wind EERA JP Wind Energy: SINTEF Energy Research is the main participant in the JP, whereas NTNU, IFE and lately CMR and UiB, MARINTEK and the SINTEF Foundation are associated participants. The latest SP; Wind integration - economic and social aspects was started in 2014 and has contributions from NTNU/SINTEF. Dissemination of information and coordination with Norwegian entities are given priority to promote Norwegian participation in EERA and H2020. This will in part be through NOWITECH activities, including collaboration with NORCOWE and WindCluster Norway, and in part through dialogue with the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and other stakeholders (e.g. OED, Energi21) via electronic media, telephone conferences and meetings. Input to RCN's EU - newsletter will be done when relevant.