RenewableUK Welcomes Marine Energy Parks MoU

RenewableUK today welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park and South West Marine Energy Park, which extends from Bristol to Cornwall. The MoU forms a working partnership that will result in increased collaboration and the sharing of innovative ideas between England and Scotland.

Each of these wave and tidal energy parks already provide bases for inward investment in their areas. By joining forces they will exchange information that will help to accelerate the development of marine energy technology from opposite ends of the British Isles.

Chief Executive of RenewableUK Maria McCaffery said “This announcement is yet another example of what can be achieved by bringing industry and Government together with local interests. This working partnership between the two marine energy parks will help to attract green investment leading to technological advances as the sector moves towards commercialisation and we invest in the skills of the future”.

“It is developments like this that we need to see more of if we are to keep our place at the front of the race to decarbonise our economy and energy supply. The fact that these two energy parks are at opposite ends of the country also shows just as how marine energy allows different parts of the UK to benefit from wave and tidal technologies”.

The signing took place at RenewableUK’s annual Wave and Tidal Conference in London, on the second day of the event. It was witnessed by UK Energy Minister Gregory Barker MP and Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing MSP.

Peter Kydd, strategic director at Parsons Brinckerhoff, who signed the agreement as chairman of the South West Marine Energy Park, said: “We are very pleased to be working in close partnership with our colleagues in Scotland – there are already very strong relationships between companies and research facilities in the two regions, it makes sense therefore that the UK’s first two Marine Energy Parks should be working together to promote and accelerate the commercial development of marine energy technologies”

Calum Davidson, Director of Energy and Low Carbon at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), who signed on behalf of The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters MEP said: “We are delighted that the Highlands and Islands’ role in the development of the marine energy sector is being recognised nationally and internationally through the signing of the MoU with the south west. The MoU recognises the work already being undertaken by both regions and will help to accelerate their place on the worldwide marine energy stage as well as attracting investment and furthering the industry’s ambition for commercialisation.”

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Press release, February 28, 2013