Advanced Manufacturing EU Mapping for energy related applications in harsh conditions – scoping study |
Introduction
In spring 2014, the Vanguard Initiative regions, with the support of a consultant funded by the European Commission, prepared a scoping study on the creation of a smart specialisation platform for advanced manufacturing.
As a second step in the development of the SSP, Scottish Enterprise has commissioned Technopolis Group to prepare a detailed snapshot across the EU in the niche area of advanced manufacturing for energy applications in harsh environments, with a particular emphasis on where Scotland’s strengths can be complemented by similar / related strengths across the EU.
There are a number of applications related to energy and resource extraction which require components of the highest integrity, capable of operating for extended periods in very harsh conditions. Some of these markets are already established while others are in their infancy, the study is focusing on the following:
• Offshore Oil and Gas – especially deep water fields. The rising price of energy is making more challenging fields economically viable but the technical demands are high and the equipment must be of the highest quality to minimize environmental risks.
• Unconventional Oil and Gas – such as shale gas and coal-bed methane. Energy security concerns are raising interest in these techniques.
• Marine Renewables – including wind, wave and tidal generators. It is essential to the economics of marine renewables that maintenance be minimised, so components must have long service lives.
• Blue Water Mining - extracting mineral resources from the seabed: an emerging sector driven by global resource shortages.
There may be other closely related markets where operating conditions including high temperatures and pressures, significant stress and strain and corrosive/abrasive fluids present similar challenges (e.g. nuclear, Carbon Capture and Storage).
The study has three key components:
• An inventory of the relevant infrastructure (marine energy testing sites, etc.) and specialist research centres, key companies, clusters and networks across the EU in the niche.
• Based on the above, a graphical representation of the European value chain (or network) in ADMA for energy applications in harsh environments, including R&D services, test houses and providers of specialist materials, components, sub-systems and complete solutions.
• An overview of key areas of common opportunity (i.e. where the ‘match’ is strongest) and the barriers which appear to inhibit regions and industry from finding each other (learn/connect) and then working together (demonstrate and upscale).
This survey is part of the first component of the study: building an inventory of relevant infrastructure across the EU. It aims at identifying the most relevant infrastructures, companies, clusters, etc. across EU regions with a relevant specialisation in the fields concerned.
The focus of the study is on identifying opportunities for co-operation on technologies that are close to being applied in industry (technology readiness levels 6-9, i.e. from technology demonstration to testing and launch).
For information or help please contact Lorena Rivera León from Technopolis Group (lorena.rivera.leon@technopolis-group.com).
As a second step in the development of the SSP, Scottish Enterprise has commissioned Technopolis Group to prepare a detailed snapshot across the EU in the niche area of advanced manufacturing for energy applications in harsh environments, with a particular emphasis on where Scotland’s strengths can be complemented by similar / related strengths across the EU.
There are a number of applications related to energy and resource extraction which require components of the highest integrity, capable of operating for extended periods in very harsh conditions. Some of these markets are already established while others are in their infancy, the study is focusing on the following:
• Offshore Oil and Gas – especially deep water fields. The rising price of energy is making more challenging fields economically viable but the technical demands are high and the equipment must be of the highest quality to minimize environmental risks.
• Unconventional Oil and Gas – such as shale gas and coal-bed methane. Energy security concerns are raising interest in these techniques.
• Marine Renewables – including wind, wave and tidal generators. It is essential to the economics of marine renewables that maintenance be minimised, so components must have long service lives.
• Blue Water Mining - extracting mineral resources from the seabed: an emerging sector driven by global resource shortages.
There may be other closely related markets where operating conditions including high temperatures and pressures, significant stress and strain and corrosive/abrasive fluids present similar challenges (e.g. nuclear, Carbon Capture and Storage).
The study has three key components:
• An inventory of the relevant infrastructure (marine energy testing sites, etc.) and specialist research centres, key companies, clusters and networks across the EU in the niche.
• Based on the above, a graphical representation of the European value chain (or network) in ADMA for energy applications in harsh environments, including R&D services, test houses and providers of specialist materials, components, sub-systems and complete solutions.
• An overview of key areas of common opportunity (i.e. where the ‘match’ is strongest) and the barriers which appear to inhibit regions and industry from finding each other (learn/connect) and then working together (demonstrate and upscale).
This survey is part of the first component of the study: building an inventory of relevant infrastructure across the EU. It aims at identifying the most relevant infrastructures, companies, clusters, etc. across EU regions with a relevant specialisation in the fields concerned.
The focus of the study is on identifying opportunities for co-operation on technologies that are close to being applied in industry (technology readiness levels 6-9, i.e. from technology demonstration to testing and launch).
For information or help please contact Lorena Rivera León from Technopolis Group (lorena.rivera.leon@technopolis-group.com).