EMEC, CENSIS Team Up on Sensor Innovation

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and CENSIS, the Innovation Centre for Sensor & Imaging Systems, are collaborating to support innovation and development of new sensor technologies.

By helping innovative sensor technologies develop through technology readiness levels (TRL) and providing independent performance verification as technologies enter the market, the partnership aims to fast track novel sensor technologies in the energy sector marketplace.

The CENSIS team of commercially experienced technology specialists and cross sector supply chain knowledge base bridges the gap between university research and industrial uptake. The centre assists small and medium-sizes enterprises (SMEs) to grow beyond initial models quickly by enabling them to develop new innovations with university research teams.

The support offered by CENSIS can help sensor technologies progress to TRL 6/7, readying them for independent Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) delivered by EMEC.

The Statement of Verification delivered at the end of the ETV process can be used as evidence that the claims made about an innovation are credible and scientifically sound. This reduces the technological risk for potential investors, helping new technologies increase their market share and differentiate from their competitors.

As a Verification Body for ETV, EMEC is accredited by UKAS (ISO 17020) to undertake ETV verifications in accordance with the EU ETV Pilot Programme General Verification Protocol.

EMEC’s Research Director, Jennifer Norris, stated:

“Marine energy developers are generally required to investigate the potential effect of their devices on the surrounding environment, as well as being interested in any effect the environment may have on their devices. These investigations require in situ monitoring by sensors that can deliver data in high energy environments.

“The better the sensors and other data gathering methods are, the better we can understand how the pioneering wave and tidal energy machines testing at EMEC interact with their environment.

“We want as many companies as possible to benefit from the EU-ETV scheme. CENSIS’ support in early-stage technology development will help companies progress their technologies to a point when they’re ready to market. EMEC can then verify the performance claims to give more credibility to a new product as it becomes commercial.”

The pilot EU-ETV scheme is applicable to innovative technologies in the energy industry, water treatment and monitoring technologies, and materials, waste and resources technologies, providing they have environmental added-value.

EMEC is currently running a competition which will provide a free ETV to an innovative technology developer. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 June 2015.