ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
MAKING WAVES Sustainability is at the heart of policy in Wales. One of the first countries in the world to have it written in its statute, the energy and environment sector is central to Wales’ planned development.
As a low carbon economy, Wales has a renewable electricity target of 70 per cent by 2030. Currently, around 58,000 people work in the sector, generating more than £4.8 billion in revenue, figures which are set to increase dramatically. The huge importance and potential for growth is reflected in RenewableUK’s estimate of a sector worth more than £4 billion to UK GDP by 2050. Marine energy is one of the key renewable energies, and Wales’ geographic position makes the wave and tidal sector a priority. Wales has the second highest tidal range in the world, and with the Severn Estuary included, there is potential to generate around 10 GW from marine energy. Wales’ deep sea ports are equipped to support renewable projects. The success of the sector in Wales is evidenced by the serious funding it is attracting. The Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) has recently extended funding for several key research projects including SEACAMS 2 - a £17 million, three-year project at Bangor and Swansea Universities set to develop a network of coastal observatories to collect high-quality data and ensure its availability to potential developers, while Mentor Môn’s £5.6 million Morlais scheme in Anglesey, North Wales, designed to accelerate the development and commercialisation of multiple tidal stream technologies in the Morlais Demonstration Zone has received £4.5 million of EU and Welsh Government funding. The rapid growth and exciting innovations in the sector are attracting increasing numbers of companies, helped by SEACAMS, through which they can access vital research support necessary to progress multi- million pound developments. There are a growing number of device developers based in Wales, including Minesto, Marine Power Systems and wave-tricity, which has recently secured a £4 million funding award from WEFO.
SEACAMS
provide them with our research expertise and help them to grow the industry. Over the last decade or so the Welsh Government has encouraged the research sector to really link up. We are in Bangor University, but work with colleagues across the whole of Wales including Swansea, Cardiff, Aberystwyth and others and are also connected with agencies such as Natural Resources Wales. The collaboration we have is possibly greater than in many other parts of the world. We are world leaders in this area and our scientists play a big part in national and international conferences, including the biggest Ocean Science meetings in the world, the European and American Geophysical Unions. For companies, Wales is a very stimulating place to work and a very easy place in which to gain access to local and national government. Wales is a great place to live, and scenically it’s really beautiful. As far as I’m concerned, it’s got everything.
Prof Colin Jago, Bangor University The wave and tidal sector is potentially really important for Wales. Marine renewable energy is a key component of the government’s drive to become a leader in low carbon energy: the marine reserve could provide 20 – 30 per cent of the UK’s energy requirements. It’s a very challenging industry; nevertheless the potential gains for Wales are enormous because of the magnitude of the resource. The Crown Estate has designated two demonstration zones, managed and co-ordinated so that a range of companies can develop innovative ideas, and also so that they can be connected to the national grid, which is really important. We also have huge potential for tidal range energy by building tidal lagoons. We have plans to construct them in Swansea, Cardiff, Newport in South Wales and Colwyn Bay in North Wales. They could generate around 9 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs. At SEACAMS our remit is to work with businesses in the sector, to
VI WALES
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