The two institutions intend to exchange expertise, participate in joint renewable energy projects, using each others’ research facilities, and they will support each other on technology transfer and commercialisation for renewable energies.

“The increase global emphasis on clean energy development has created an urgent need for effective leadership and support from the world’s leading research institutions for accelerated research and development, demonstration, and deployment on a much greater scale,” says NREL Director Dan Arvizu. “NREL is delighted to participate in the ECN memorandum of understanding, which is designed to directly address these issues in the context of a broad international network of cooperating research institutions.”

Tom Hoff, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECN, adds: “I am very enthusiastic about this cooperation. It is a unique opportunity to be able to join forces with such a leading institute in the US. The mutual exchange of knowledge and skills will accelerate the development of energy technology and market implementation. NREL is a leading institute that is directly involved in new developments and it has the ability to strongly increase the R&D efforts. The cooperation enables us to be involved in this growth.”