The SEAMETEC project aims to develop smart, efficient tidal-turbine blades and offshore wind-turbine blade structures at an affordable cost. The strategic objective is to increase the availability of secure, low-cost, low-carbon electricity from ocean and offshore energy. These objectives will be achieved by using a novel, but commercially proven, patented, composites manufacturing process and by adding sensor technology that reduces maintenance costs and improves reliability. The project will be delivered by ÉireComposites in partnership with EnerOcean, two companies with excellent track records in managing European projects and developing new technologies. EnerOcean has performed technology- and resource-quantification studies on a wide range of tidal technologies and offshore wind. ÉireComposites has commercialised a novel technology for manufacturing wind-turbine blades. The project will play an important role in creating a new European industry – the production of tidal stream turbines – while also giving Europe a competitive advantage in offshore wind. Offshore wind is an established multi-billion euro market. Tidal stream energy is an emerging market that will create up to 120GW of electricity and a €400bn industry. The SEAMETEC partners will access these markets by collaborating with Suzlon (a leading global wind OEM) and Marine Current Turbines (a Siemens business and key player in tidal energy). The project is a game-changing innovation for tidal energy: it will result in reliable, cost-efficient blades, without which the aggressive launch of tidal arrays may not proceed. It will stimulate the innovation potential of SMEs for a low-carbon and efficient energy system (SIE-01-2014-1) and strongly contribute to the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge ‘Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy’. The two collaborating SMEs will develop clean, affordable technology solutions that increase security of supply of electricity, protect the environment and grow the economy.

The SEABOAT concept will tackle inherent issues in the recreational boat manufacturing industry, with a particular focus on addressing outdated, inefficient, costly and environmentally inferior hull-manufacturing processes that will not meet new legislation. It will also address the demand by recreational boat users for improved performance and sustainability advantages, comparable to those delivered by electric cars. In response, SEABOAT will deliver significant positive impacts in terms of industry/EU competitiveness, scalable company growth in revenue & jobs, and a wide array of performance & environmental benefits. This will be achieved by commercialisation of the Composite Powder Epoxy Technology (C-PET) manufacturing process within the recreational boat manufacturing segment and by introducing a revolutionary E-Boat design incorporating the C-PET manufactured hull into the market, enabling ÉireComposites (composites manufacturing technology expert) to achieve in excess of €45m cumulative revenue and 260 jobs from 2021-2023. Originally conceived for aerospace/renewable energy applications, C-PET is a high-performing, cost-effective manufacturing technology that will lower the cost of boat hulls by 30%, eliminate toxic Volatile Organic Compounds & reduce hull weight by 45%. Reduced hull weight will allow extra batteries and enhance boat range/performance, so that for the 1st time ever, battery-powered boats will be able to compete with fuel-powered alternatives. C-PET will be demonstrated & tested in an advanced electric boat, reducing operational costs by 60% & delivering 0 emissions, with tangible benefits along the whole life-cycle. SEABOAT will enable wider adaptation of electrical boats (replacing fuel powered engines), helping drive growth in the market for electric boats estimated to achieve global worth of $20bn by 2027 and rejuvenate peripheral, coastal economies.

POWDERBLADE aims to gain market acceptance and rapid market take up of an innovative materials technology involving carbon/glass fibres in powder epoxy to be commercialised initially in the production of larger wind turbine blades (60 metre +). The immediate impact of this disruptive materials technology in the wind energy sector will be reduced wind turbine cost (-20%). This in turn will lead to increased productivity of low-carbon energy from more rapid market deployment of large turbines. The reduction in costs and increase in productivity will reduce the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for the European citizen – the ultimate beneficiary of this innovation. This ambitious project is led by Éire Composites, an established industry player in composites manufacturing for the Aerospace and Renewable sectors and an experienced FP7/Horizon 2020 participant.In the year after project end, ÉireComposites will generate over €7m in revenue from direct sales of larger blade components using the new materials, increasing to €39m by 2021. The longer term commercial strategy is to focus on recurring revenues from the supply of advanced materials directly to manufacturers to produce blades and other products under license. This revenue stream will generate €60m by 2021. ÉireComposites will employ an additional 78 staff in direct production at project end increasing to 489 employees over both revenue streams three years later. Suzlon, a large wind OEM and end user, is the second industry partner. Their involvement demonstrates early market acceptance of the new technology. Suzlon are committed to investing substantial funds in the commercialisation of this technology in return for the opportunity to gain significantly as the first large industry player to market with light, cost-effective carbon-glass hybrid blades. Technology partner (University of Edinburgh) and innovation specialists (WestBIC) will support the industry partners in achieving the goals of POWDERBLADE.

The CRIMSON project will bring to market a reliable, sustainable, marine energy turbine, and is underpinned by the application of novel materials and an advanced manufacturing process. The key driver for this project is the global potential to generate 120GW of clean, predictable electricity from the kinetic marine energy in rivers and tidal currents. CRIMSON will provide high-performance, low-cost, and scalable marine hydrokinetic (MHK) power systems to the market using manufacturing techniques suitable for high-volume manufacturing with composite materials. The immediate impact of this disruptive technology will be to demonstrate the technical and commercial potential of harnessing marine hydrokinetic energy; the longer term impact will be to reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for the European citizen – the ultimate beneficiary of this innovation. CRIMSON will also deliver significant positive impacts in terms of industry/EU competitiveness and scalable company growth in revenue & jobs (€300m of revenues & over 200 jobs by 2026). This ambitious project is led by ÉireComposites, an established industry player in composites manufacturing for the Aerospace and Renewable Energy sectors and an experienced FP7/Horizon 2020 participant, who will coordinate the project and manufacture the rotating turbine structure. Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), a leading marine energy OEM and technology end-user, is the second industry partner. ORPC has already invested substantial funds (in excess of €100m) in the commercialisation of marine energy and is determined to become a global leader in the sector. Their adoption of the CRIMSON technology will demonstrate its early market acceptance. To achieve the goals of CRIMSON, the project will be supported by a materials specialist (Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials), a testing partner (CNR, the Italian National Research Council) and an academic partner (National University of Ireland Galway).