Minister Jane Davidson launches Marine Energy Pembrokeshire website
The Minister for Environment Sustainability & Housing, Jane Davidson AM launched the MEP website yesterday (July 8th) on behalf of the MEP working group. The site has been set up as a one-stop-shop for developers looking for contacts and information on consenting requirements, available research and information, and onshore support services. It also includes details of projects looking to develop off the county’s shores, including Wave Dragon’s wave energy converter, the tidal stream turbines being developed by Tidal Energy Ltd and e.on/Lunar Energy, Far Offshore Renewables’ floating wind turbine and the wave energy parks being investigated by Marine Energy Ltd.
MEP, a partnership of statutory bodies, the Welsh Assembly Government, private sector companies and academia, was established by the the Spatial Plan Area Group and co-ordinated by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum after meetings last year to identify areas for sustainable economic regeneration. It aims to develop a sustainable marine energy sector to help meet energy targets and add value to the local economy. MEP’s chair, Dr Miles Willis, said the website launch was a welcome opportunity to tell the Minister about its work and for individual developers to discuss their progress on activities. “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,” he said.“We have a great opportunity here to nurture a high value added-economy by capitalising on an emerging industry, and the new website is designed to highlight to potential developers the vast knowledge, infrastructure and skills we already have.”
Jane Davidson said that the Assembly Government was committed to working with stakeholders such as MEP to deliver its low carbon aspirations. “Our energy policy statement, ‘A Low Carbon Revolution’, estimates that Wales has the potential to produce more than twice as much energy as it currently uses through wholly renewable sources by 2025, with the largest proportion of this energy coming from marine generated electricity,” she said. “We are currently developing a Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework to support the exploitation of marine renewables and to assess the potential for energy extraction, whilst looking to minimise the impact on the environment. “I am committed to exploiting this tremendous resource in order to mitigate the effects of climate change and maximise the potential for green jobs and a green economy.”