Seapower campaign

EMEC’s Managing Director was in London this week at the RenewableUK Wave and Tidal conference. Neil spoke at the event, lending his support to the launch of the SeaPower campaign.

RenewableUK, Britain’s leading renewable energy trade association, launched the campaign to urge the Government not to cut vital financial support for one of Britain’s fastest-growing industries – the marine energy sector. The campaign coincides with the publication of a new report “Wave and Tidal Energy in the UK – State of the Industry” http://www.bwea.com/ref/reports-and-studies.html.

The report shows that Britain has the opportunity to lead the world in developing the emerging marine energy industry. As of March 2011, the UK has 3.4MW of installed marine energy capacity – a rise of 50% on the last year. It is estimated that the industry also now employs 800 people full time.

The sector has the potential to employ 10,000 people and generate revenues of nearly £4bn per year by 2020. The removal of £42 million of ring-fenced funding through the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund (MRDF) means that there will be no guaranteed support for the development of this technology from the end of March this year. The huge economic and environmental opportunities arising from the growing industry are recognised by countries such as the USA, Canada and China, and there is therefore a danger that this leading position will be lost to overseas competitors.

The public are being encouraged to support the SeaPower Campaign by writing letters to their MP or by signing an online petition at: http://www.embracemyplanet.com/campaigns/seapower