Renewable energy funding

A technical support facility has secured funding to support the north east’s low carbon energy manufacturing sector and increase the turnover of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by £6m.

The TWI’s Technology Centre in Middlesbrough has received £1.67m of funding from regional development agency One North East to extend the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Technology (REMTEC) initiative and increase the competitiveness of companies in the region.

Under the scheme, TWI, a global welding and joining company, will open its centre to local SMEs to improve their manufacturing processes. The focus of the scheme will be on the use of advanced materials and joining technologies for the production of new products and processes that increase competitiveness.

The project will also attempt to identify opportunities for advanced fabrication of wind towers and foundations, composite fabrication for large wind turbine blades, combustion component coatings for biomass and dual-fired plants, solar energy systems and anti-fouling coating development.