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Member News: ORE Catapult signs testing agreement with Ming Yang Smart Energy

November 10, 2025
Member News: ORE Catapult signs testing agreement with Ming Yang Smart Energy

Ming Yang Smart Energy, the largest private wind turbine manufacturer in China, and the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, have today announced the signing of a contract to provide testing and validation of the main bearing for Ming Yang Smart Energy’s 18.5 MW offshore wind turbine.

The test piece is scheduled to arrive at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland, in the coming months and will be subjected to simulated real-world conditions that replicate what an operational 18.5 MW turbine would experience out at sea.

This is the first testing agreement that ORE Catapult has signed with Ming Yang Smart Energy and builds on years of experience of testing major new pieces of technology that have gone on to play big roles in the UK’s expansion of offshore wind.

ORE Catapult Chief Executive Steve Foxley, said:

“Offshore wind will play a central role in the UK’s journey to delivering Clean Power 2030 and to achieving Net Zero in the years beyond.

“Today’s announcement highlights one of the many vital roles ORE Catapult plays in supporting that transition – providing independent validation of quality and reliability, helping developers and the wider sector make informed choices.”

Marc Sala, VP Engineering and Technology Europe for Ming Yang Smart Energy, said:

“For Ming Yang, this partnership with ORE Catapult is a major milestone in our strategic push into the UK market and marks a decisive breakthrough for our local operations.

“By partnering with ORE Catapult’s world-leading test facilities, we will bring our 18.5 MW offshore turbine to the UK—and wider international markets—quickly and with proven reliability, further strengthening our global leadership in high-end wind technology.”

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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