News this week
Industry news
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has launched its new £20 million Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (MEAD) scheme aimed at stimulating further growth in the marine renewable energy sector. The initiative will support up to two pre-commercial projects to demonstrate the operation of wave and/or tidal devices in array formation over a period of time. Organisations from across the UK are invited to bid for a share of the £20 million fund, and can apply online via the DECC website. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 1 June 2012.
EMEC news
Richard Morris, Commercial Director, recently returned from a Scottish trade mission to Chile where Minister of Energy for the Chilean Government, Mr Rodrigo Alvarez provided the keynote speech at a workshop on ‘Marine energy in Chile’ held in Santiago. Richard delivered a presentation on “Test and demonstration – the road to commercialisation”, and sat on a panel discussing “Environmental aspects of putting marine energy into Chile”. He then travelled to Punta Arenas to view a possible site for a tidal demonstration facility.
Neil Kermode, Managing Director, attended a joint Japan/EU workshop on Ocean Energy & Offshore Wind in Brussels discussing further areas for collaboration between the two regions. Neil provided the group with an update on EMECs activities, and was impressed by the scale of development across the two areas. EMEC already has strong ties with Japan: Kawasaki Heavy Industries are currently developing a tidal turbine to test at the Fall of Warness tidal test site, and we have recently signed a collaboration agreement with the Ocean Energy Association of Japan looking at the development of a Japanese marine energy centre.
Neil also attended the 4th Marine Energy Group meeting run by the Scottish Government where he was pleased to hear more details regarding two proposed funding schemes – the MRCF and MEIF – which further reinforce the continued drive by the Scottish Government to accelerate the development of marine renewable energy.
And visiting EMEC we have welcomed Alyn Smith MEP for Scotland and Mike MacKenzie MSP Highlands and Islands. They visited the Billia Croo wave test site where they witnessed E.ONs Pelamis P2 generating to the grid (pictured in the background, Wello’s moorings being installed, and other marine works on site. They were joined by Orkney’s SNP Secretary John Mowat and Orkney Islands Council Councillor candidate Ewan Loudon, and were highly impressed by the level of activity happening here at EMEC.
