The joint work is part of a Memorandum of Understanding on ‘Collaboration in Energy Related Fields’ being agreed this week between the UK and US. As well as power generation it includes energy transmission and distribution and energy efficiency. It will also enable the sharing of best practice and expertise.
The collaboration comes out of international talks which convene in London this week. Energy Ministers from 23 countries will meet on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss accelerating the transition to clean energy technologies.
Alongside the talks, Energy Secretary Edward Davey will sign a number of similar bilateral agreements.
The announcement comes as, in the UK, the Energy Technologies Institute is planning development of a £25 million offshore wind floating system demonstrator. Participants will develop an offshore wind turbine that can produce 5-7MW by 2016. An announcement on who will be carrying out the project on behalf of the ETI is expected early next year.
The ETI is also currently investigating various sites that could host the demonstrator and has announced that it is working with WaveHub, 16 km north east of St Ives off the Cornish coast, to carry out a site feasibility study.