Welsh government has awarded £1.2 million for the development of a Marine Energy Test Area (META) project in the Milford Haven Waterway.
The funding will support the work of Marine Energy Wales in developing a network of pre-consented areas of seabed that will support research, component testing, innovation, deployment techniques and scaled device deployment.
The £1.9 million META project is set to contribute towards Wales’ plans to play a key role in a growing global market and will add to the UK’s network of test sites.
David Jones , Project Director of Marine Energy Wales, said: “Marine energy has already had a positive impact upon our peripheral economies in Wales, supported local supply chain clustering and diversification, and we see META contributing to the continued cost reduction being delivered by the sector at the moment.”
Stephen Wyatt , ORE Catapult’s Director of Research & Disruptive Innovation, said: “Its [META’s] pre-consented areas of waterway, will provide for quick and efficient testing of components, sub-assemblies and complete devices, and allow developers to practice installation and O&M methodologies, within easy reach of an extensive, and supportive, engineering supply chain.
“META fits well with ORE Catapult’s emerging plans for engagement with the region, and we look forward to working closely with the team.”
META forms part of Pembroke Dock Marine, a £76 million project to develop a world class center for marine energy development, fabrication, testing and deployment in Pembrokeshire.
The project has also received funding through the Coastal Communities Fund earlier this year.
The next steps of the project will build on previous work to select the most appropriate sites within the Waterway, continue to engage with stakeholders and formally begin the leasing and licensing process.