'Renewable energy' embraces a range of technology areas such as wind, solar power - photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal and concentrating solar power (CSP) - geothermal, biomass/waste-to-energy, and the hydrogen and fuel cell infrastructure. Characterised by having a minimal environmental impact coupled with sustainability, low-cost renewable energy is an increasingly important part of the global power generation mix.
Within Europe, the Low Carbon Roadmap for 2050 sets out a non-binding target for a 40% cut in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030. Allied to this, the renewable energy industry is strongly championing a legally binding target of 45% renewables by 2030 - a position that is attracting growing support from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
In the UK, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Energy Review of May 2011 concludes that "there is scope for significant penetration of renewable energy to 2030 (e.g. up to 45%, compared with 3% today)".
There is, therefore, a growing global market for renewable energy technologies.
A key challenge across the renewable energy sector is to develop and deploy large numbers of cost-effective, energy-efficient devices.
TWI provides impartial technical expertise on every aspect of renewable energy devices, and has a track record in reducing the whole life costs of plant and devices through:
- Optimising fabrication
- Minimising operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements
- Improving performance
- Extending life and durability.
In all these areas TWI can work with renewable energy system designers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fabricators, operators and maintenance companies on a one-to-one basis, where for publicly funded projects or closed project consortia.
TWI recognises that the renewable energy sector includes a large SME community which, while vibrant, also faces its own specific challenges. Our extensive experience in supporting SMEs and broad technology transfer activities are particularly useful in this area.
In addition, TWI brings over 60 years of experience in delivering energy technology networks worldwide. This expertise allows us to broker the most appropriate consortium for group projects. We believe that such projects work best as a team. As such, we not only provide project management we also write the project proposal as part of the team rather than as paid consultants.
TWI provides a single-point access to technical and project management support across the renewables sector. The breadth of in-house expertise offered in materials, fabrication, repair, non-destructive testing (NDT), structural integrity, O&M optimisation, and training enables TWI to offer a cost-effective and fully integrated service.
For more information, please email contactus@twi.co.uk.