Wind power centre may have new turbine test facility

A new renewable energy centre planned for the north-east of England could boast the world's largest testing facility for wind turbine blades, it has emerged.

New Energy Focus reported that the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) is set to establish additional development and testing sites in the region, with plans for a centre to be announced in the autumn.

It is thought that Narec will feature full-scale demonstration sites for onshore and offshore windfarms, as well as a campus for research and development.

Bioenergy, solar panels and other renewable energy generation systems will also be tested at the site, it was suggested.

A Narec spokesperson told the alternative energy news source that the north-east is "ideally placed" for developing further offshore wind projects.

Meanwhile, the UK is set to construct a large number of wind turbines under part of a new scheme to further develop renewable energy generation in the country, according to a report from United Press International.