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Blyth's Narec merges with Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Blyth-based Narec has merged with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult to form a national body that will champion offshore wind, wave and tidal energy.

The move is designed to accelerate the design, deployment and commercialisation of renewables technology and spur overseas investment.

Andrew Jamieson, chief executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, will lead the combined organisation.

He said: “Narec and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will together create a world-leading innovation and asset assurance business, serving the entire offshore renewable sector and returning value on Government investment many times over.

“We will play a leading role in ensuring the UK replicates the success of the oil and gas industries, creating many thousands of skilled jobs, contributing billions of pounds to the economy and ensuring that the UK has a major influence on European policy, funding and offshore renewable energy development in the decades to come.”

Andrew Mill, who steps down as Narec chief executive and will join the board of ORE Catapult as a non-executive director, said: “Integrating Narec’s world-class facilities and expertise with the ORE Catapult will create a unique and growing organisation, ensuring that regionally and nationally the UK is in the best possible position to capture the huge opportunity presented by wind, wave and tidal energy.”

Iain Gray, Technology Strategy Board chief executive, said: “Combining Narec’s outstanding research, testing and development facilities with the Catapult’s leadership and expertise will create a single, powerful champion for the development of the UK’s offshore renewable energy industries.

“The Technology Strategy Board is committed to long term investment to promote technology innovation, drive down the cost of renewable energy and realise the enormous economic potential of the UK’s offshore wind, wave and tidal resources.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .