Opened in March 2019, The TUS-ORE Catapult Research Centre (TORC) is a leading renewable energy technology R&D centre with unique links in both the UK and China, helping to support the growth of the offshore wind sectors in both countries.
The £2million Centre is developing collaborative research programmes, supporting market entry and incubation for UK businesses in China, providing commercial support for Chinese offshore wind developers and supporting the demonstration of new technologies on a 300MW wind farm in the Shandong Province.
China is predicted to become the world’s largest offshore wind market, with the Chinese Government investing $100bn in wind power projects by 2020 and aiming to install 5GW of capacity in the South China Sea, with a further 10GW in planning. With the offshore wind industry expected to provide UK companies with a £2.6bn export opportunity by 2030, the potential prize has never been greater for innovative companies that can act now and establish themselves in the the market.
The first wave of research programmes for the new Tus-ORE Catapult Research Centre include:
TORC is a joint venture company established by ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd (located in Northumberland, UK), TUS Wind Technology Co Ltd (located in Beijing, China) and TUS Mingshi Science and Innovation Co Ltd (based in Yantai, China). Its main office is located in the Yantai Hi-Tech Development Zone in the coastal city of Yantai, in the Shandong Province in China.
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Anakata is now successfully accessing the Chinese wind energy rotor blade retrofitting market for its innovative aerodynamic add-ons as a direct result of all the hard work of ORE Catapult, Innovate UK and the TUS-ORE Catapult Research Centre. Without their help, support and bridge-building with the ideal Chinese partner companies, this would have been a near impossibility.
Ben Wood
CEO of Anakata Wind Power Resource (UK) Ltd
James Battensby
Head of Research Business Development
01670 543016
James Battensby is the Head of Research Business Development at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult). James is responsible for the development of international research proposals and industrial supply chain engagement programmes at the ORE Catapult. James has over 18 years of experience in the low carbon sector and prior to joining ORE Catapult held a range of positions managing technology development projects. This has included roles with Parsons Brinckerhoff, UK Government and Corus Research and Development.