HRH Prince Charles enthused about Pembrokeshire’s possibilities for the marine renewable sector

HRH Prince Charles has recently shown huge interest in local group Marine Energy Pembrokeshire (MEP) whilst visiting the area for a two day event aimed at sustainability. MEP is a local public/private partnership collaborating to establish Pembrokeshire as a centre of excellence in Wales for the development and exploitation of marine generated energy.  MEP was demonstrating how sustainability could be achieved as a direct result of the development of Marine Energy related projects in Pembrokeshire. Information made available at the exhibition included details of projects looking to establish off the county’s shores, including Wave Dragon’s wave energy converter, the tidal stream turbines being developed by Tidal Energy Ltd and eon/Lunar Energy, Far Offshore Renewables’ floating wind turbine and the wave energy parks being investigated by Marine Energy Ltd.

The event, held in the Botanical Gardens on September 7^th, is part of the Project Start initiative. Project Start was first announced by The Prince of Wales in February with a speech at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Here he outlined the origins of the project, by reflecting on the role of his great great grandfather, Prince Albert, in establishing the Great Exhibition of 1851 to demonstrate the wonders of the modern world and the advantages it would bring. Project Start aims to echo the idea behind the Great Exhibition by showing people the technologies, techniques and principles that exist now, which will not only improve our lives, but also help to sustain the planet.

In helping to develop a successful and vibrant marine renewable energy sector in the County, MEP hopes not only to make a significant contribution to region’s transition to low carbon but also to its economic regeneration. MEP’s David Jones (pictured) said of the Royal visitor “HRH Prince Charles seemed enthused about the potential for Marine Energy in Pembrokeshire helping to meet the challenges ahead. He asked about how the devices worked, where they would be deployed and whether there was public and governmental support for the sector.”  “The Pembrokeshire coast has tremendous wave and tidal stream potential, the Milford Haven waterway has all the port facilities and road links a developer could need, and grid connections are good – we have a whole product from beginning to end”

Professor John Harries, the first Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales also visited MEP’s stall and commented on the importance of the groups collaborative working. Other members of MEP, Wave Dragon and Tidal Energy Limited were also at the event providing information on their specific projects.