OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

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04 / COUNTRY REPORTS
Through the Marine Energy Programme Board (MEPB), the Government is actively engaging with the sector
and working with them to realise their potential. The MEPB, which draws together key stakeholders from
across the marine energy sector (energy utilities, industrial companies, technology developers, financiers
and Devolved Administrations), plays a central role in advising Ministers what actions the Programme
should take to advance the industry. The current focus is on enhancing the UK marine energy sector’s ability
to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy devices at commercial scale. Over the past year, the key areas
of focus for the Marine Energy Programme Board has been:
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Island transmission charging
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Support needed for small scale arrays and early commercial deployment;
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Planning and consenting issues;
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Knowledge sharing though a Marine Intelligence Network.
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Level of support for marine energy under the reform of the energy market which is to be implemented
in 2014.
The Coalition Government has supported the development of Marine Energy Parks (MEPs) across the
UK to help propel the industry forward. MEPs aim to bring together manufacturing, expertise and other
activities to drive the marine sector forward to commercialisation.
There are now two MEPs in the UK; the South West Marine Energy Park (SWMEP) which was launched in
January 2012 and the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters (PFOW) Marine Energy Park which was launched in
July 2012. The SW MEP has since published its business plan and have received initial funding contributions
from a coalition of local partners which will be matched by contributions from the private sector.
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Leadership Forum (PFOWLF) are finalising a marketing and
communications plan to take forward actions agreed upon by the forum. The PFOWLF are currently in talks
with SW Marine Energy Park colleagues on a number of proposals which will result in collaboration MEP
work from 2013 onwards.
SCOTLAND
On 30 October 2012 Scotland published the first annual update to our 2020 Routemap for Renewable
Energy in Scotland. This progress report provides a summary of developments across the renewables
sector, and includes a new interim target to meet the equivalent of 50% of Scotland’s electricity demand
from renewable sources by 2015 – an important milestone on the journey towards 100% by 2020. Scotland
surpassed its 2011 target of 31% of electricity demand by generating 35% of electricity from renewable
sources that year.
In June 2012, Scotland also produced its Marine Energy Action Plan which detailed the five key elements
around which it would further develop and support the marine renewables industry within Scotland. These
are as follows: 1) Finance, 2) Grid, 3) Infrastructure and Supply Chain, 4) Planning and 5) Europe.
The Marine Energy Action Plan, whilst not a government strategy, is an industry led document that
highlights the barriers to the industry whilst identifying solutions to overcome these barriers.
In recognition of Scotland’s wave and tidal potential – 25% of European tidal potential and 10% of its wave
potential – we continue to invest in the infrastructure required to support Scotland’s marine renewables
industry. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has received around £30m of public funding to allow
it to support the testing and development of both wave and tidal devices within Scottish waters.
WALES
In March 2012 the Welsh Government published Energy Wales: A Low Carbon Transition which sets
out our ambition to create a low carbon economy that delivers jobs; long term wealth and supports our
communities. Marine Energy has been identified as one of the areas of greatest potential to position Wales
at the forefront of key innovation, research and development.
An Energy Programme has been established to drive forward the ambitions set out in Energy Wales.