MaRINET 2: Marine Renewable Infrastructure Network to Leverage Technologies

The integration activities planned within the MaRINET 2 project build on the achievements of the advanced community created in MaRINET FP7. MaRINET 2 will ensure the continuous integration and improvement of all leading European scientific infrastructures and facilities specialised in the research, development and testing of marine renewable energy systems including electrical sub-systems and grid energy integration across the full range of technology maturity levels (TRL 1-7).

MaRINET FP7 demonstrated the added value of unifying these facilities and substantially increased its capabilities as a community of practice to deliver consistent testing services, ensuring measurable and progressive innovation and breakthroughs in the development of key devices and components, and identifying critical areas for future technology improvements and research. While the activities proposed in MaRINET 2 follow the same formula, balancing collaborative work / joint research / transnational access, the consortium and scope of work expands to include 39 partners from 13 countries with 59 facilities. The e-infrastructure programme fills a strategic gap. Evaluating existing data management/exchange capabilities; responds to user needs and demonstrates the operation of a new system based on standards and tools adapted from the SeaDataNet infrastructure.

The European Commission and Member States recognise marine renewables as an important source of clean energy that can: generate economic growth and jobs; increase energy security; and boost competitiveness and technological innovation. The realisation of this potential depends on the accelerated development, deployment and grid integration of reliable and efficient technologies to harness the energy generated, which in turn requires robust and thorough testing in dedicated facilities and by experienced professionals. MaRINET 2 provides this ecosystem, being uniquely suited to foster the next generation of marine renewable energy devices.