PRIMaRE Conference fosters marine industry-academia links

The University of Bath hosted the 3rd PRIMaRE Conference which discussed challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.

During the event, speakers and scientists from industry and academia gave talks on a wide range of topics including technology, policy, environment, hydrodynamics, resource characterisation, materials, operation and management.

PRIMaRE conference hosted 90 delegates and members of the industry from around the globe, providing the chance to obtain a direct view on the current industrial developments in the marine renewables sector and foster a closer engagement between academia and industry.

Jun Zang, Director of the Research Unit for Water, Environment and Infrastructure Resilience (WEIR) and the current Chair of the PRIMaRE Partnership, said: “It has been an honour and privilege to lead the PRIMaRE Partnership for the past year and work closely with colleagues in partner institutions and various external bodies.

“I am very pleased that PRIMaRE has gone from strength to strength. We have expanded collaborations and links with international leading research groups and industry, which has allowed PRIMaRE to make greater impact in the sector.”

Philippe Blondel, Deputy Director of the Centre for Space, Atmosphere and Ocean Science and co-organiser with Zang, added: “This conference is a key part of the marine renewable energy calendar, and its 2016 edition showed the trademark characteristics of our University: leading international researchers presenting world-class science, with strong collaborations between academics and industry.

“The panel discussions showed the way ahead for marine renewable energy research, and its increasing impacts toward sustainable electricity generation.”

The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of the UK

PRIMaRE is managed through a steering committee consisting of the Universities of Plymouth, Exeter, Southampton, Bristol and Bath, along with the Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the South West Marine Energy Park, and Wave Hub.