Leading figures from the offshore renewable energy sector will be coming to the University of Plymouth later this year after it successfully bid to host the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2021).
The biennial event was first held in 1993 and provides a forum where those at the forefront of technology development in the sector meet, interact, present their latest research and debate new ideas and issues pertinent to wave and tidal energy conversion.
Running from September 5-9, the conference will - subject to COVID guidelines at the time - be held at the University of Plymouth and other venues in and around the city such as Plymouth Guildhall and The Box.
It is set to incorporate a full programme of lectures, workshops, technical visits and poster sessions as well as social activities such as a gala dinner.
Registration for the event is now open, with an early bird package available for those wanting to attend, although this is subject to change depending on any changes to the Government's COVID-19 guidelines (* see note below).
The University's successful bid to host EWTEC 2021 is the latest endorsement of its position as one of Europe's leading centres for offshore renewable energy (ORE) research and innovation.
It leads the Supergen ORE Hub, created in July 2018 with £9million of funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Hub aims to bring together a network of academic, industrial and policy stakeholders to champion and maintain the UK's wave, tidal and offshore wind expertise.
In December, the University was awarded more than £1million by the EPSRC - as part of its World Class Labs initiative - to create a first-of-its-kind facility that will enable physical modelling experiments with wind, wave and currents simultaneously.
It is also leading a new initiative, again funded by around £1million from the EPSRC, to test the potential for flexible materials to be used in the design and manufacture of wave energy structures.
More information about the EWTEC 2021 conference - including details about sponsorship opportunities and registration - is available at https://ewtec.org/ewtec-2021/
