JUMP2Excel aims to stepping up and stimulate scientific excellence and innovation capacity of MCAST Energy in the field of PV integration including related technologies such as energy storage and ancilliary services and electricity markets. This is achieved by joint universal activities with a group of top world leading research centres (CENER and CEA) together with one of the best research intensive university (UNIMAN) who will provide access to extensive network and contacts in the field. The activities are mainly knowledge transfer and networking through a series of workshops, winter/summer schools, MRes and PhD programmes, internships, exchanges, meetings and mentoring. MCAST Energy is experiencing a self-funding growth within its breath of energy research theme that lead on campus. In addition, the MCAST main campus infrastructure together with laboratories will be the first ‘living laboratories’ on the island, used for real-life applications while delivery training and research as well. This TWINNING proposal will provide a stimulus of required knowledge to become more efficient and competitive to an international level of excellence. JUMP2Excel is designed for all partners to benefit in a way that goes sustainably beyond the three-year funding period. This eventually will result in enhanced skills sets and profile of MCAST Energy which in turn reflect the positive development of Malta knowledge economy including its ambition as a regional energy hub, solar country and blockchain state.

The SETWind project supports the implementation of the SET-Plan Implementation Plan for Offshore Wind. The proposal has been developed in consultation with the Temporary Working group that authored the Implementation Plan and key stakeholder organisations including ETIPWIND, WindEurope, the EERA Joint Programme for Wind Energy, the IEA Wind TCP and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Petten. The SETWind project will update and work with the Implementation Plan to maintain it as a dynamic reference point for offshore wind energy research and innovation; it will monitor and report on progress towards the Implementation Plan targets of 1090 million € to be invested in R&I in the offshore sector until 2030; it will strengthen policy coordination in European offshore wind energy R&I policy by supporting the work of the SET-Plan Implementation Group for Offshore Wind; and it will facilitate a breakthrough in the coordination across borders of nationally funded R&I projects. The SETWind project will be run in the same spirit as it was developed: as a collaborative efforts bringing in European and international stakeholders to translate the Implementation Plan into a living document by updating the research and innovation priorities and implementing these together with relevant stakeholders through nationally funded projects coordinated across borders.

As the effects of climate change are becoming ever more visible, Europe has raised its target for the amount of energy it consumes from renewable sources from the previous goal of 27% to 32% by 2030. Offshore wind energy can play a key role in achieving the EU target and contribute to the required 40% reduction in CO2 emissions. However, to achieve the previously mentioned targets the cost of offshore wind must be reduced. This proposal provides a direct route to creating a step change in the cost of energy from offshore wind through the development of a disruptive new offshore wind turbine concept known as the “X-Rotor”. The X-Rotor has potential to reduce the cost of energy (CapEx and OpEx) from offshore wind by up to 20%, based on a conservative estimate from early feasibility study work. To quantify and validate the CapEx and OpEx savings, the project team holds a significant successful track record in computational modelling in the areas of aerodynamic, structural, control, electrical and cost modelling within the wind energy sector. Additionally, environmental and socio-economic impact analysis will be carried out to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the X-Rotor in those areas. GE, a globally leading leader in wind turbine development and manufacturing will ratify all proof of concept work completed in this project to ensure it is to a standard that can be used in future commercialisation. Through the completion of the proposed work by our consortium of leading EU research and industry partners, this proposal will determine the technological, economic, environmental, and social feasibility of the X-Rotor concept. If the concept proves feasible, it will, as a disruptive new offshore wind turbine concept, create new opportunities for the European wind energy industry and play an important role maintaining the EU’s position as global technological leader in renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonising the EU economy.