FLOWRA and EMEC to collaborate
From left to right: Shinichi Kihara, Policy Coordinator, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy; Masakatsu Terazaki, Chairman, Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA), Sweyn Johnston, Head of Enterprise and Economic Growth, Orkney Islands Council (representing EMEC) and Gillian Martin MSP, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action.
The Floating Offshore Wind Power Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) of Japan and The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Limited have signed today, 16th September 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding to explore technology development cooperation in the field of floating offshore wind.
FLOWRA and EMEC will explore the possibilities of collaboration in establishing and managing an offshore test and demonstration site for floating wind technology development.
FLOWRA is a technical research association that works with overseas organisations to research and develop common basic technologies for floating offshore wind to reduce costs and risks.
Based in Orkney, Scotland, EMEC is the world’s leading accredited test laboratory for demonstrating new marine energy technologies. A not-for-profit company, EMEC’s mission is to reduce the time, cost and risk to progress innovative sustainable technologies to market.
Building on its experience with wave and tidal testing, EMEC has designed a floating offshore wind test and demonstration site. The site will offer floating wind developers the opportunity to prove performance and de-risk technologies in some of the most challenging metocean conditions in the world.
Comment by Masakatsu Terasaki, Chairperson of the Board, FLOWRA:
“EMEC is recognised as the world’s first centre for testing power generation technologies in real-sea conditions, serving as a leading global hub for innovation in the marine renewable energy sector and driving the development and commercialisation of new technologies. What makes EMEC truly remarkable is not only its role as a testing centre, but also its strong research and development networks, its contribution to regional economic growth, and its active engagement with local communities.
It is a great honour for FLOWRA to collaborate with EMEC, an organisation with a proven track record and deep expertise. By combining our efforts, we aim to accelerate the development of core technologies for floating offshore wind, establish robust verification and evaluation methodologies, and contribute to the expansion of the floating offshore wind market – ultimately helping to realise a sustainable society.”
Comment by Matthew Finn, Managing Director, EMEC:
“Floating wind is set to play a major role in the global energy transition, and EMEC is committed to supporting its development. Our MoU with FLOWRA marks an exciting step forward in international collaboration, enabling knowledge exchange and accelerating innovation.
By leveraging our experience in offshore renewables with the aim of expanding our testing infrastructure, including a new floating wind demonstration site in Scotland, we aim to help developers de-risk technologies in real-world conditions before large-scale deployment. Together, we want to bridge the gap between innovation and investment, advancing the global floating wind market.”
