Pembrokeshire to get marine energy center

Milford Haven Waterway, Pembrokeshire (Photo: Wave Hub)

 
Pembrokeshire has come one step closer to the establishment of a marine renewable energy center around the Milford Haven waterway with the signing of Swansea Bay City Region deal set to take place later today.

UK and Welsh Government ministers will visit the Swansea Bay on Monday, March 20, 2017, to sign the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Region Deal expected to boost the local economy by £1.8 billion, and generate almost 10,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.

Under the deal, eleven major projects will now get underway in South West Wales, including the £76 million Pembroke Dock Marine project.

The Pembroke Dock Marine project will regenerate an area of Pembroke Dock to create a dedicated site which will be used as a base by marine energy developers to progress their devices from an idea to a commercial product.

The site will allow developers to test, manufacture and maintain offshore renewable energy devices and will be supported by the development of a Marine Energy Test Area (META), comprised of a series of areas along the waterway where developers can test devices at an early stage of development

The center will also be supported with the development of a Pembrokeshire Wave Energy Demonstration Zone which can be used by developers to test more developed devices in open sea conditions, and the creation of the Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence (MEECE) to coordinate and share knowledge, resource, experience and capacity between existing and future developers.

Jamie Adams, Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, said: “The Port of Milford Haven has partnered with Marine Energy Wales, ORE Catapult and Wave Hub and is working alongside Swansea University and Pembrokeshire College. Together they are poised to drive innovation and herald the commercialization of wave and tidal stream technology in Wales.

“It will make a vital contribution to the Welsh economy; increasing productivity, export potential and skilled employment opportunities for today and for future generations.”

The total investment package for the Swansea Bay City Region Deal is made up of £241 million of UK and Welsh government funding, £396 million of other public sector money and £637 million from the private sector.