EVENT PARTNERS
#MEW2025
ALL NATIONS CENTRE | CARDIFF
PROGRAMME
We’ve carefully developed this year’s programme to bring together industry leaders, experts, researchers, and policymakers to explore the latest developments and opportunities in tidal, wave, and floating offshore wind technologies in Wales.
Whether you’re a developer, supply chain company, NGO, decision-maker or researcher, our programme has something to offer you.
Please note that this is a preliminary programme and is subject to modifications.
EXHIBITION HALL
09:30 – 10:00 – Welcome and Opening
EXHIBITION HALL
10:00 – 11:00 – Political Keynotes
MULLER ROOM
11:00 – 12:00 – Turning the Tide: Scaling Tidal Energy in Wales Today
Speakers: Jay Sheppard (Chair), John Idris-Jones, Mike Dobson, Richard Arnold, and Heledd Cressey.
This session will delve into the immediate steps needed to drive the growth of Wales’s tidal stream energy sector, highlighting lessons from current projects and practical strategies to unlock new opportunities. Panellists will explore how environmental data from active sites is reducing consenting risks, the state of grid infrastructure and what’s needed to deliver energy efficiently, and the readiness of Welsh ports to support deployment at scale. With a focus on overcoming barriers and fostering collaboration, this discussion will provide actionable insights into how tidal stream energy can become a key pillar of Wales’s renewable energy future.
EXHIBITION HALL
12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch
MULLER ROOM
13:00 – 14:00 – Empowering Cymuned
Speakers: Clare Jones (Chair), Lydia Godden, Holly Skyrme, Prina Sumaria, and Dafydd Grufydd.
This session underscores the critical role of public perception and community acceptance in the successful development of Wales’s marine renewable energy sector. Through dialogue with community leaders, developers, and engagement specialists, we’ll explore best practices for ensuring communities have a meaningful voice in shaping local projects. The discussion will also address the risks of neglecting community inclusion, such as delays, opposition, and reputational challenges, and how proactive, transparent engagement can mitigate these risks. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to build trust, align with community values, and foster collaborative relationships that pave the way for shared success and sustainability.
WALLIS ROOM
13:00 – 14:00 – Workshop: Delivering Welsh Government’s Tidal Lagoon Challenge
Join this open discussion on how Welsh Government’s Tidal Lagoon Challenge is progressing on the ground. Hear from those leading the charge, share your own perspectives, and help shape what comes next. This session will explore the early lessons, emerging barriers, and opportunities to accelerate delivery. Facilitated by project leads and sector stakeholders, it’s a space for honest exchange and collaborative thinking.
EXHIBITION HALL
14:00 – 14:30 – Break
EXHIBITION HALL
14:05 – 14:25 – Sponsor Showcase: ORE Catapult
Discover how one of the UK’s leading innovation centres is helping to drive the future of offshore renewable energy. This showcase is a chance to hear directly from ORE Catapult on their latest initiatives, insights, and impact. From cutting-edge research to industry partnerships, this session offers a window into their work—and how it’s shaping the sector.
MULLER ROOM
14:30 – 15:30 – Modernising Consents
Speakers: David Tudor (Chair), Julie Taylor, Kat Route-Stephens, Sarah Wren, and Brad Davies.
This session highlights ongoing efforts to modernise the consenting process for marine energy projects, ensuring it is fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving industry. Panellists will discuss initiatives to simplify regulatory frameworks, integrate innovative data-driven approaches, and enhance collaboration between developers, regulators, and stakeholders. By exploring how these advancements can reduce delays, improve efficiency, and maintain robust environmental safeguards, the session will provide valuable insights into creating a streamlined and effective pathway for project deployment.
WALLIS ROOM
14:30 – 15:30 – Workshop: Working Together Putting Strategy into Action
Join an informal discussion on shaping skills and engagement projects action for the Celtic Sea Region. This is your chance to contribute, challenge, and co-create. Your insights will help turn ambitious ideas into place-based replicable actions. Session will be facilitated Pembrokeshire College, Pembrokeshire County Council, and Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum working with The Crown Estate.
EXHIBITION HALL
15:30 – 16:00 – Break
EXHIBITION HALL
15:35 – 15:55 – Sponsor Showcase: Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum
Explore the work of a mission-led organisation that’s turning vision into action for sustainable coasts and communities. This showcase is your opportunity to hear from Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum as they spotlight their evolving role in marine renewables and coastal stewardship. Expect thought-provoking reflections and practical examples of place-based impact.
MULLER ROOM
16:00 – 17:00 – From Potential to Profit: Lessons in Commercialising Marine Renewable Energy
Speakers: Tam Bardell (Chair), Gareth Stockman, Richard Parkinson, Dernis Mediavilla, and Tim Warren.
This session will explore the critical transition from reliance on public funding, such as EU grants, to attracting and leveraging private investment to drive growth and innovation in the marine renewable energy sector. Industry leaders, financiers, and developers will share insights and lessons learned from their commercialisation journeys, highlighting strategies to de-risk projects, secure funding, and build robust financial partnerships. Delegates will gain practical knowledge on navigating this evolving landscape, from preparing investment-ready propositions to fostering investor confidence in marine renewables as a profitable and sustainable industry.
19:00 – 23:00 – Networking Dinner
MULLER ROOM
09:30 – 10:30 – META Milestones: R&D in Action
Speakers: Jay Sheppard (Chair), Zoe Whitlock, Will Melhuish, Rebecca Jeffrey, Ian Masters, and Adrian Thomas.
This session celebrates the pioneering projects that have taken to the water at Wales’s national marine energy test centre, META. Showcasing innovative research and development efforts, panellists will share insights into how these projects are advancing marine renewable technologies and overcoming real-world challenges. Attendees will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how META is fostering innovation, accelerating deployment, and solidifying Wales’s reputation as a leader in marine energy R&D.
EXHIBITION HALL
10:30 – 11:00 – Break
MULLER ROOM
11:00 – 12:00 – Offshore Wind in Wales: Turning Ambition into Action
Speakers: Tom Hill (Chair), Ed Sherriff, David Jones, Liz Dunn, and Aled Rowlands.
Offshore Wind represents a transformational opportunity for Wales. With an estimated £32 billion market potential, thousands of high-quality jobs, and a pathway to energy security and decarbonisation, the time to act is now. This panel will explore key issues the Welsh Government’s Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group examined, focusing on how Wales can maximise the economic and industrial benefits of offshore wind. Industry leaders, policymakers, and regional stakeholders will discuss the critical infrastructure, investment, and workforce development needed to establish Wales as a leader in offshore wind.
EXHIBITION HALL
12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch
MULLER ROOM
13:00 – 14:00 – Moving Within Range
Speakers: Ioan Jenkins (Chair), Shaun Benzon, Andrew Garrad, and Joanna Gray.
Tidal range energy holds significant potential within the UK’s renewable energy portfolio, with recent developments offering a renewed opportunity to bring this technology closer to deployment. This session will examine the incremental progress made in advancing small-scale demonstrators, feasibility studies, and community engagement efforts, framing these as steps toward unlocking the broader potential of tidal range projects. Discussions will explore how the sector can leverage political shifts, build momentum, and address challenges to position tidal range as a key contributor to the UK’s clean energy future.
EXHIBITION HALL
14:00 – 14:30 – Break
MULLER ROOM
14:30 – 15:30 – Floating Stepping Stones: Doing it for the Region
Speakers: Charlie Allen (Chair), Andy Reay, Helen Donovan, Madeline Cowley, and Kerry Hayes.
Discover how test and demonstration (T&D) projects play a critical role in unlocking the economic potential of Wales’s floating offshore wind industry. The discussion will highlight how T&D initiatives serve as critical ‘stepping-stones’ to commercial-scale deployment, fostering innovation and supporting the growth of the local supply chain and infrastructure. Panellists will also assess whether the window of opportunity for T&D in the Celtic Sea remains viable and identify immediate actions required to ensure the projects are delivered and create lasting value for the region. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of T&D in securing Wales’s leadership in the floating offshore wind sector.
EXHIBITION HALL
15:30 – 16:00 – Conference Wrap Up & Close
While the second day’s sessions take place upstairs in the Muller Room, the exhibition remains open throughout the day.
We encourage you to visit the exhibition space, meet our exhibitors, and discover the innovative work, services, and partnerships helping to drive the future of marine renewable energy.
We’ve worked hard to keep our ticket prices as accessible and inclusive as possible. If these are still a barrier to your attendance, please get in touch with tom.hill@marineenergywales.co.uk to discuss.