Dalhousie University Forms Green Energy Partnership with DSME

Researchers in Nova Scotia and South Korea will work together and share leading edge research in renewable energy through a memorandum of understanding signed today, Oct. 19, between Dalhousie University and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME).

Premier Darrell Dexter, who is on the second day of a trade and investment mission to South Korea, was on hand with Dalhousie's vice-president of Research, Martha Crago to support and participate in the signing ceremony.

"Nova Scotia has some of the most aggressive renewable energy targets in North America and today's MOU between Dalhousie and DSME is another example of the new opportunities between both our regions," said Premier Dexter.

"By signing the MOU, the province now stands to benefit from even more research that will help make us world leaders in renewable energy generation, while helping to grow the economy and create good jobs for people across the province."

"This mission to Korea embodies the kind of productive partnership that government, industry and universities can have," said Ms. Crago. "This particular partnership has local impact while creating global reach for Nova Scotia. I am very proud of the commitment that DSME and Dalhousie have made to work together in the interest of sustainable energy."

Dalhousie's Uday Venkatadri will lead research into design, production and manufacturing of wind turbine towers and blades and look at the design and planning issues at the new DSME Trenton facility for the construction of wind turbines.

Mr. Venkatadri, a professor of industrial engineering has received a $25,000 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Engage grant for the research and will work closely with DSME.

"As the company moves forward with its plans to produce wind turbine towers and blades, the research looks at methodologies to design the layout of the manufacturing plant," said Mr. Venkatadri. He will also address production planning that considers uncertainties in supply and demand.

DSME, one of the world's largest ship builders, acquired the American wind turbine engineering company, DeWind Inc., in 2009 and announced plans to expand into the wind power sector. As Nova Scotia has great untapped renewable energy resource potential, and Dalhousie has the expertise to overcome the barriers in reaching this potential, the partnerships are natural fits.