Five Scottish firms to make mark in fast-growing Chinese green energy market

Five Scottish green energy businesses have secured major collaborations to supply the world’s fastest growing offshore and renewable energy markets.

Miros Scotland is a technology company with more than 35 years of experience providing sensors and systems for environmental monitoring to the global offshore and maritime industry.

The firms are among eight UK organisations that have signed key agreements to develop and provide renewable energy technologies, services and research in China, at a virtual ceremony hosted in Yantai City, Shandong Province.

The eight innovators, from backgrounds as diverse as Formula 1, robotics, oil and gas, marine energy and digital technology, have all been supported by TORC, a joint venture research and incubation centre established in March last year by the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and China’s Tus Wind.

The five Scottish firms which have signed memorandums of understanding with TORC to develop collaborative projects for the Chinese market include: Aleron Group, the Aberdeen-based specialist in remotely operated vehicles for the oil and gas industry; Edinburgh-based Logan Energy, which specialises in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; and Miros Scotland, an Aberdeen-based technology company with more than 35 years of experience providing sensors and systems for environmental monitoring to the global offshore and maritime industry.

The other two Scots businesses are: REOptimize Systems, an Edinburgh-based start-up born from the Institute of Energy Systems (IES); and ZOEX Wave Power, a wave energy technology developer based in Aberdeen.

In addition, a new academic research partnership has been formed through an agreement between TORC and Harbin Engineering University (HEU)/Exeter University.

Lars Johanning is in charge of the HEU Yantai research activities and a leading academic in marine renewables in the UK. His team will collaborate on developing an international academic/industry partnership to develop marine renewables.

Bill Ireland, chief executive of Logan Energy, said: “China has ambitious goals to develop into a hydrogen society, which is why there has been a surge in hydrogen and fuel cell development – it hopes that hydrogen will account for 10 per cent of its energy system by 2040. Hydrogen is a valuable way for China to meet its climate and pollution goals without increased reliance on imported fuels.

“It’s great to be working with the catapult to explore the positive impact that hydrogen applications could have within Chinese aquaculture, and to be part of the strengthening links between China and Britain.”

Andreas Brekke of Miros said: “We are excited to be a part of this initiative and to have the opportunity to support the impressive speed and scale of China's offshore wind development.”

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