Over 60 industry professionals from across the UK will gather at Plymouth University today to discuss the future development of the UK wave and tidal energy sector.
The annual meeting of the Marine Energy Programme Board (MEPB) is set to provide a forum for UK industry, regional stakeholders and Government to progress the development of UK marine energy industry.
This year, Amber Rudd, DECC Minister, is chairing the meeting held at South West Marine Energy Park.
The focus of today’s meeting will be on the technology advances that have been made over the past 12 months, finance and funding support necessary to enable further technology development and the deployment of pilot wave and tidal projects, and available opportunities for developing a UK supply chain, the press release reads.
Johnny Gowdy , director at Regen SW, said: “As marine energy technologies advance the need to secure finance and support for demonstration and commercial projects has become even more critical. The UK is in a great position to take wave and tidal energy forward and, with the right backing from central government and local partners, the South West has the assets and capability to play a significant role in what could be a truly global industry.”
The attendees of the conference include technology developers, industry experts, universities and representatives from Scotland and Wales.
The MEPB is a DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) led strategic forum that draws together key stakeholders from across the marine energy sector, and plays a central role in advising ministers what actions the Marine Energy Programme should address to advance the industry.
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Image: EMEC/Illustration