The University of Strathclyde and Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) are partnering to cooperate on the development of maritime engineering and offshore renewable energy.
The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a framework for collaboration across research, education, continuing professional development, and policy and practice – with an initial focus on innovation in offshore renewable energy.
The MOU also recognises the potential for joint activity including seminars, workshops and lectures delivered collaboratively where appropriate.
Industrial capabilities
The partnership brings together the University’s research expertise with the industrial capabilities of JMU, with initial joint work on the standardisation and mass production of floating offshore wind turbines.
Professor Maurizio Collu, of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering Department, said: “By combining the strengths of our two organisations through this new partnership we can help address some of the key technical and manufacturing challenges facing floating offshore wind, particularly around standardisation and scalability, which are critical to accelerating deployment at pace.”
Haruki Yoshimoto, General Manager of Floating Wind Engineering Group, Offshore Wind Project Department of JMU, said: “We are very encouraged to collaborate with the University of Strathclyde, a leading institution in a country that is at the forefront of floating offshore wind deployment.
“By combining the University’s advanced analytical capabilities with JMU’s extensive experience in the design and construction of offshore structures, we expect to generate practical insights that will contribute to improving the reliability and rationalisation of FOWT design.”
Collaborative networks
As part of the agreement, the two parties will grow awareness of each other’s expertise and needs, facilitate connections across their organisations, and support the development of collaborative networks.
The University of Strathclyde is internationally recognised for its expertise in wind energy, with research spanning wind turbine and wind farm control, system optimisation, and offshore wind engineering. Its multidisciplinary teams work closely with industry to advance technologies that improve the performance, reliability and integration of wind power systems.
Japan Marine United Corporation, a leading shipbuilder in Japan, has been engaged in the advancement of floating offshore wind technology since 1999 and continues to contribute to the sector’s development. JMU’s proprietary floater, JadeWind®, is prepared for deployment in a major project to install large‑scale wind turbines, marking an important milestone toward the commercialisation of floating offshore wind.