Leading organisations and figures for wave and tidal current energy gathered in Cardiff earlier this month 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.
The Welsh Government hosted the event in Cardiff - The Crown Estate, along with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Welsh Government, are funding the event.
The two day workshop was an 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.
The workshop, which was facilitated by Natural Capital Ltd, brought together regulators, advisors and managers of demonstration zones and test sites , supporting 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 that if harnessed sustainably, wind, wave and tidal resource could play a major role in energy security and that the Welsh Government was committed to working with other parts of the UK, and industry, to build a world-class marine sector.
Ronnie Quinn, Head of Ocean Energy at The Crown Estate, manager of the UK seabed, commented:
“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.”
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