The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has been designated with Renewable Energy Testing Laboratory (RETL) status, the highest international designation for marine energy test laboratories.

EMEC is the first RETL for ocean energy in the world.

RETL designation is awarded by the International Electrotechnical Commission – Renewable Energy System (IECRE) which operates a global certification system addressing three renewable energy sectors: solar photovoltaic (PV), wind energy, and marine energy.

Currently, a prerequisite to being recognised as a RETL in the marine energy sector is to be accredited as a test laboratory; EMEC has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ISO/IEC 17025 as a test laboratory since 2005 and ISO/IEC 17020 as an inspection body since 2014.

Up until now, EMEC could perform accredited performance assessments within the UK; RETL designation enables EMEC to perform tests to assess the power performance of tidal energy converters anywhere in the world in compliance with IEC TC 114 Technical Specifications (precursors to international standards).

For now, the RETL designation only covers the power performance assessment of tidal energy converters (IEC/TS 62600-200), however, the IECRE System is in the process of expanding such a designation to cover wave energy converters and additional competence areas as well.

EMEC’s Technical Manager, Elaine Buck, explains why attaining RETL designation is a vital milestone for the ocean energy sector:

“Given the complexity and size of the challenges in developing ocean energy technologies – consenting, commissioning, installation, operations, maintenance – it is extremely difficult for investors, funders and insurers to adequately conduct comprehensive technical due diligence. Thus, the IECRE offers a comprehensive and transparent third-party renewable energy conformity assessment system that ensures that project installations adhere to accepted international standards.

“For EMEC, gaining RETL designation is a major achievement, providing independent assurance that ISO/IEC 17025 and IECRE criteria have been met for integrity, technical competence and quality, and that the methods we use are standardised and transparent.

“RETL status opens up international markets to EMEC for testing ocean energy devices, subsystems and components on a worldwide basis. While there are 29 RETLs for wind energy globally, EMEC is the first RETL for ocean energy technologies in the world.”

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: European Marine Energy Centre