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Wave–tricity launches sea trials

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A landmark occasion for Wave–tricity: Sir Steve Redgrave (left) alongside Simon Hart MP, Managing Director Matt Fairclough–Kay and CEO Simon Gillett

A DEVICE which is hoped to harness wave energy in a simple and robust way has undergone its first sea trials at Pembroke Dock.

Wave–tricity officially launched a two–year programme last Thursday (March 9) where it will look to continue its development of a commercially viable, wave energy converter device.

Product Ambassador and five– time Olympic gold medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave , was at the Wave– tricity head office in Pembroke Dock to celebrate the next phase of the project.

Sir Redgrave said: “It’s always interested me, after years and years of applying lots of power into the water and never really getting any benefit other than making a boat go quite quickly over still water […], that it can be turned around, to try and harness the power from the waves, so it’s something that’s close to my heart in some ways.”

While still in its research and development phase, the device, dubbed the ‘Ocean Wave Rower’ was described by Wave–tricity’s Managing Director as ‘simple, robust and versatile’.

A multi–million pound project, Wave–tricity secured £4m in EU funding via the Welsh Government in September last year.

The company is hopeful that their device will help to deliver power to ‘isolated communities, island nations and developing coastal nations’ that struggle to generate energy in a world dominated by high–cost oil and gas infrastructure.

Managing Director Matt Fairclough–Kay said: “Our particular wave energy converter is different to a lot of others that are out there in that we’re not chasing efficiency, what we’re chasing is robustness and reliability.

“We want something that’s easily maintainable, and hence can be used in much greater areas around the world.”

He added that the ‘Ocean Wave Rower’ will go beyond ‘just being a wave energy converter’, but also act as a device ‘that can provide disaster relief and go to the point of need’.

As well as energy, the Rower could also have the ability to provide clean water to disaster struck areas.

Explaining why Wave–tricity opted for Pembroke Dock as their operations base, the Director stated: “First of all, the environment. Milford Haven Waterways is an amazing test environment, because you’ve got very sheltered waters at the landward end and you’ve got very unpleasant waters at the seaward end.

“Alongside that, there’s a good supply chain here; Mainstay Marina Solutions have been very helpful in getting our device to sea up until this point, we’ve got tug companies here, we’ve got a good maritime supply base, like Dale Sailing across the waters, and many other companies.”

He added: “We need to see that sector growth and the cluster of renewable energy companies that are setting up here and causing that diversification, which is really important to the whole maritime sector.”

Also in attendance on Thursday and speaking of the need for renewable energy, Simon Hart MP said: “I think that obviously when everybody thinks of renewable energy, they think of onshore wind, they think of offshore wind, they think of solar, but they’re beginning to, I think, take wave energy as something which isn’t just a vague aspiration but is actually something that hopefully, in the reasonably foreseeable future, we should be able to master.”

With regard to the economic impact of projects such as Wave– tricity on Pembrokeshire, Mr Hart said: “It helps create new jobs, which is really important; obviously jobs in new sort of innovation are always good for the local economy.

“I think the other thing it does, it keeps the skills that we do have, in the area, so if the Milford Haven Waterway, Pembrokeshire, West Wales as a wider area, gets an international reputation as being somewhere at the forefront of renewable energy, that means we will keep a decent, substantial, well–paid skill set in the area.”

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Crime

Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen

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POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.

The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.

Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.

A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

“Quote reference: 24*355571”

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Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine

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FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.

The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.

This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.

Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”

The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.

This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

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Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations

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SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

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