MaRINET

MaRINET
Name	MaRINET
Type	Research Infrastructure Network
Established	2004
Headquarters	European Union
Region served	Europe

MaRINET

MaRINET was a European marine renewable energy research infrastructure network that coordinated access to test facilities and expertise across European Union, supporting wave power and tidal energy device development alongside institutions such as European Commission and European Marine Energy Centre. It connected national laboratories, universities, and private test sites including National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Ifremer, and CNR to accelerate technology validation for projects like Pelamis Wave Power, Andritz Hydro Hammerfest, and Siemens Gamesa. The initiative facilitated joint research, standardization, and industrial uptake involving stakeholders such as European Investment Bank, European Technology Platform for Ocean Energy and major utilities including EDF.

Overview

MaRINET provided transnational access to testing facilities spanning wave, tidal, and offshore components, linking facilities such as DHI Group, SINTEF, University of Edinburgh, Cranfield University, University of Plymouth, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Akvaplan-niva, Tecnalia, TNO, Politecnico di Milano, DTU and ECN to device developers like Atlantis Resources, OpenHydro, and Schottel. The network promoted interoperability with standardization bodies including DNV GL, ISO, and IEC and enabled collaborations with funding bodies such as Horizon 2020, FP7, and European Regional Development Fund.

History and Development

MaRINET originated from European research coordination efforts during programmes like FP7 and built upon earlier initiatives involving EMEC and CETENA; partners included KIC InnoEnergy, RINA, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, University of Strathclyde, University of Limerick, University of Galway, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and University College Cork. The project timeline intersected with deployments by companies such as Pelamis Wave Power, Ocean Power Technologies, Minesto, and policy milestones like the 2020 Climate and Energy Package, engaging networks including NERC and EPSRC-funded groups. MaRINET evolved to support demonstration projects influenced by events such as COP21 and funding mechanisms like European Investment Bank loans and Interreg cross-border programmes.

Research Infrastructure and Facilities

Facilities coordinated ranged from wave basins at O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory-style institutions and towing tanks at CNR-INSEAN to flume halls and cavitation tunnels at Fraunhofer, as well as open-sea test sites like EMEC, FaBTest, Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine, Wave Hub, ScotRenewables Test Site, and Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon-related sites. Instrumentation and modelling resources included computational centres akin to PRACE hosts, high-performance computing at CINECA and metocean data from Copernicus Programme, EMODnet, MET Norway and observatories such as Plymouth Marine Laboratory and EuroGOOS members. Testing capabilities covered aspects addressed by organisations like ICF, Alstom, ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, and certification services from DNV GL.

Projects and Collaborations

MaRINET supported consortia that included universities like University of Manchester, Imperial College London, Dublin Institute of Technology, University of Porto, Technical University of Denmark, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, EPFL, TU Delft, RWTH Aachen University, and industrial partners such as General Electric, RWE, Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, Enel Green Power, Iberdrola, E.ON and Orsted. Notable collaborative activities interfaced with initiatives like Horizon 2020 projects, Blue Growth agendas, Ocean Energy Systems (OES), European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), ICES working groups, and demonstration efforts tied to Grid integration studies with transmission companies such as National Grid and Red Eléctrica de España. Cross-sector partnerships involved shipyards like Fincantieri and testing consortia including Marinetech-type alliances.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The network governance model mirrored structures seen in CERN-style collaborations and pan-European consortia with coordinating beneficiaries including national agencies such as BBSRC-type funders, regional authorities like Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and institutes such as INESC. Funding streams combined calls from FP7, Horizon 2020, private equity from venture firms, industrial cost-share from companies like Schneider Electric and ABB, and support from financiers including European Investment Bank and regional development programmes such as Interreg and ERDF. Advisory bodies drew expertise from certification and standards organisations including ISO, IEC, DNV GL, Lloyd's Register, and research councils like EPSRC and NERC.

Impact and Applications

MaRINET accelerated prototype validation that influenced deployments by firms such as Atlantis Resources, Andritz Hydro Hammerfest, Minesto, and Siemens Gamesa, contributing to technology readiness increases observed in projects impacted by Horizon 2020 funding. Its coordinated testing and data-sharing practices informed standards used by IEC working groups and supported environmental monitoring and consenting processes involving regulators like Marine Scotland and Natural Resources Wales. Outcomes affected sectors from offshore renewables developers to utilities such as EDF Renewables and grid operators like National Grid ESO, and influenced policy discussions at forums including European Commission directorates and international meetings such as IRENA conferences.

Category:European research projects