Leading organisations and figures for wave and tidal current energy are gathering in Cardiff today for a workshop to facilitate better collaboration across the sectors and help the development of demonstration zones and test sites across the UK.
The UK has significant natural resources for the emerging wave and tidal current energy sectors. Demonstration zones have an important role to play in facilitating further technological development on the path towards commercialisation.
Welsh Government is hosting the event in Cardiff, and The Crown Estate, along with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Welsh Government, are funding the event.
The workshop will be held over two days in recognition of the unique opportunity to share knowledge from across a number of different test sites; develop joint learning around both the environmental and technical engineering aspects of device testing; and look at the approach to consenting demonstration zones.
This workshop brings together regulators, advisors and managers of demonstration zones and test sites and is being facilitated by Natural Capital Ltd. It will support the work of the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) for Ocean Energy, which is seeking to ensure a more co-ordinated approach to research and development.
Carl Sargeant, Minister for Natural Resources in Wales said, “I am delighted we have the pleasure of hosting this event in Cardiff and look forward to hearing what issues emerge and what government can do to push the sector forward. If harnessed sustainably, our wind, wave and tidal resource can play a major role in our energy security and our ambitions of achieving a low carbon future for Wales. That’s why we are so serious about developing marine renewables in Wales, and are committed to working with other parts of the UK, and industry, to build a world-class marine sector and in turn, a more prosperous Wales.”
Ronnie Quinn, Head of Ocean Energy at The Crown Estate, manager of the UK seabed , added: “There is a wealth of knowledge and experience being developed by the many players in the emerging wave and tidal current energy sectors. It is only by bringing people together to identify the common challenges, put them on the agenda, and share knowledge, that we can unlock the value of our natural resources over the long term and secure a low carbon future.”