Marine Energy Pembrokeshire (MEP) is a key industry collaborator and has assisted in bringing global attention to the marine energy sector potential within Wales. Celebrating outstanding achievements in the tidal sector, the International Tidal Energy Summit Awards took place this week in London and saw MEP winning the title of Most Valued Consultant.
MEP is a leading organisation in the Welsh marine energy industry, with membership expanding to over 90 organisations, including worldwide technology developers, key stakeholders and supply chain companies. Since its inception in 2009, MEP has been increasingly recognised as a vehicle for national co-ordination and represents the sector on a number of levels, from community to Government Ministers. The Not for Profit Community Interest Company is driven by passion for the industry’s goals and its ability to drive economic growth and is embedded at a regional level, committed to working on sustainable collaborative projects which require community benefit.
MEP’s work is now being taken forward more formally on a pan Wales basis with the launch of Marine Energy Wales earlier this month in Brussels. With significant progress being made by Morlais on the tidal Demonstration Zone off Anglesey, Minesto on the Deep Green project and a number of wave energy projects being progressed in Pembrokeshire, MEW will continue to play a critical role in collaborating on marine energy projects across Wales.
David Jones, Director of Marine Energy Pembrokeshire who provided an update on Wales at the seminar said
“We are delighted that MEP’s work has been recognised on an International level. Since developing Marine Energy Pembrokeshire in 2009 we have witnessed interest in Wales grow substantially. From wave, tidal stream, tidal range and floating wind there are huge opportunities that are now being realised. The ultimate goal is to create a new low carbon global industry, where skills and knowledge are exportable worldwide. We are committed to continuing with our collaborative approach, supporting the development of Wales’ Demonstration Zones and encouraging the continued growth of the sector.”
Congratulating the organisation Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastrucure Ken Skates, AM said: “Winning this award is quite an achievement and an international recognition of the work that has been carried out by Marine Energy Pembrokeshire to promote what Wales can offer the sector and its efforts to help drive forward the growth of the sector and encourage collaboration on projects that deliver community benefits.”
With €100.4 million of EU structural funding prioritised for marine energy in Wales , two array scale wave and tidal stream Demonstration Zones, seabed agreements in place for three separate tidal stream projects, wave developers fabricating devices and a number of proposals for significant tidal range projects, Wales is well positioned to play a global leading role in marine energy.