A NEW Marine Energy Hub has been created in Pembrokeshire this month as Marine Energy Pembrokeshire and the Port of Milford Haven have teamed up in order to share knowledge and facilities. 

The joint initiatives between Marine Energy Pembrokeshire (MEP) and the Port of Milford Haven will be located on the doorstep of one of the world’s best marine energy resources.

The hub is a dynamic work site where marine energy companies can come together and share space, facilities and knowledge to unlock the sector’s full potential.

David Jones, MEP’s Project Director, explains “We know how great Pembrokeshire’s resources are and sharing this knowledge has always been at the heart of our activities. The creation of a Marine Energy Hub simply formalises this activity and allows any business to come and directly benefit from Pembrokeshire’s proposition. It’s not just an abundance of marine energy resources; there is also an experienced supply chain.

“Skilled in delivering the needs of the traditional oil and gas sector, the supply chain has already successfully diversified into the marine energy sector, fabricating and delivering Wales’ first tidal stream device with more projects in the pipeline. There is also a deep water port offering test, fabrication and deployment opportunities. The Port is hugely supportive of the marine energy sector and is the development home of Tidal Energy Ltd’s DeltaStream device.

“Of equal importance is the availability of funding. With €100.4 million of EU structural funding prioritised for marine energy in Wales, Demonstration Zones in Pembrokeshire and Anglesey, seabed agreements in place for three separate tidal stream projects, and a number of proposals for significant tidal range projects, Wales is well positioned to play a global leading role in marine energy.”

Set up in 2010, initiatives of this kind are at the heart of the Marine Energy Pembrokeshire proposition.

A strong voice in the industry, working tirelessly to highlight Pembrokeshire’s and Wales’ incredible proposition, MEP will become a vital resource within Pembrokeshire.

The working group meetings are vibrant exchanges, regularly breaking new ground, and the MEP annual seminar has become a key event in the UK marine energy calendar.

They are passionate about marine energy and the importance of collaboration – and they don’t just talk, they act. Users of the Marine Energy Hub will be able to tap into this knowledge base.

First to join the Marine Energy Hub is Marine Space. Their Technical Director, Joseph Kidd, said: “Marine Space has established itself as one of the leading companies in Wales providing development and consenting support to the marine energy sector, and having an office in Pembrokeshire has been a key part of that success.

“We are delighted to now be moving to the new Marine Energy Hub and see it as a great opportunity for us to work even more closely with developers and other organisations involved in marine energy to help push the sector forward.”

Overlooking the magnificent Milford Haven Waterway, the Marine Energy Hub’s office is owned by the Port of Milford Haven, a key supporter of the marine energy sector.

The Port’s Energy Manager, Tim James, said: “Collaboration is at the core of our operations, so MEP’s proposition really aligns with the Port’s aims. We know that Pembrokeshire has a strong future in marine energy and the creation of a Marine Energy Hub is an important step forward in helping more developers realise and access its benefits.”

Holly Pretious, Marine Energy Pembrokeshire Coordinator, rounds off by confirming that there’s more to come from MEP this year with some exciting plans underway: “The team’s overall aim is to establish Pembrokeshire and Wales as a ‘centre of excellence’ for a sustainable marine energy generation. We are looking at some important developments at the moment so it’s a great place to be. We’d encourage anyone who wants to explore how the Hub can add value to the growth of their business to get in touch.”