Mace has been appointed by NaRec, the New and Renewable Energy Centre, to undertake the project management of the Marine Test Bed facility in Blyth, Northumberland. The facility will enable testing of marine drive systems and other wave energy device components before deployment to the 'real' environment. NaRec is recognised throughout the world as a centre dedicated to accelerating the deployment and grid integration of renewable energy and low carbon generation.
The Mace appointment, awarded from the Buying Solutions framework, comes on the back of an announcement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change that its UK 'Low Carbon Transition Plan' would help accelerate the development and deployment of wave and tidal energy on facilities such as those in Blyth. The Mace team will work with the client initially to ascertain the robustness of the work they have undertaken to date on the marine turbine test bed and then to help NaRec develop the tender packages required to assist in awarding implementation contracts. Mace has appointed Royal Haskoning as subcontractor to undertake the engineering aspect of the commission.
Mike Fotherby, Mace's project director said: "This is a key appointment for Mace in the renewable energy sector and it is especially significant as the facility will assist the development of an efficient and sustainable future in energy generation."