a natural home for wave and tidal energy - Regensw
Feature
SWMEP Dr Lars Johanning is Academic Lead of the Renewable Energy Group and has established a leading role in the international research community in the field of hydrodynamics, mooring systems, reliability and marine operations for marine renewable energy (MRE) devices. Within his role he is responsible for the SWMTF and the Dynamic Marine Component test rig (DMaC), has leading roles on national and international research projects, and is an expert member to the IEC/TC114 on mooring standard developments for MREs.
Email: [email protected]
16
Wind&WaveCONNECT
A NATURAL HOME FOR WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY The South West Marine Energy Park as a cornerstone for developing devices to meet the 2020 target Words: Dr Lars Johanning
Feature
SWMEP
T
he UK is compelled to increase the amount of low-carbon electricity generation to meet its legally-binding 2050 carbon
reduction targets under the Climate Change Act. This will require a mix of low-carbon technologies, and wave energy generation schemes will be an important part of the overall portfolio. The Carbon Trust Marine Energy Accelerator study (with the Crown Estate) assessed key UK sites subject to spatial constraint and suggested that there are 50, and 21TWh/year of wave and tidal energy in UK waters that could be developed by already known technologies. This represents a total capacity of over 22GW – an order of magnitude greater than the existing 2020 aspirational target of 2GW. The study suggested further that by 2035 the wave and tidal energy sector in the UK could employ 19,500 individuals, draw investment of £6.1bn and annually generate £800m Gross Valued Added to the UK economy.
The key strategy is to develop a strong facilities base in the SW allied to an integrated supply chain and services With more than 600 miles of Atlantic coastline and powerful tides, the South West (SW) is the natural home of an exceptional marine sector and an emerging centre for the development of wave and tidal energy. The UK government has invested nearly £19.5m in the region, approximately half of which was focused on Wave Hub on the North coast. The SW marine industry is recognised as a vital ‘priority’ sector for the future prosperity of the region. This diverse and dynamic sector has increasing demand for undersea exploration, cable laying and of
course the development of marine renewables – all of which the SW already has a lead in – and therefore that figure seems certain to rise. To underline this ambition, the official launch of the SW Marine Energy Park (SWMEP) in January 2012 by the UK Energy Minister Rt Hon Greg Barker presents a unique model to implement the SW ambition to become a ‘strategic area’ for offshore renewable energy. The SWMEP demonstrates a joined-up approach in a ‘triple helix’ cluster of governmental, industry and knowledge transfer representatives. The key strategy is to develop a strong facilities base in the SW allied to an integrated supply chain and services, to significantly improve the overall attractiveness of the region as a cornerstone of device development and operation. The SWMEP will bring together physical and commercial assets and resources, to create a positive business environment in order to attract investment and accelerate the commercialisation of marine energy and create a global industry, addressing aspects such as resources, infrastructure, stakeholder support, finance, supply chain, ports etc. Furthermore, in the past seven years the SW has invested over £100m to provide world-leading research and demonstration facilities including: Wave Hub commercial array demonstration area; FabTest nursery site in Falmouth Bay; the SW Mooring Test Facility (SWMTF); the dynamic marine component test facility (DMaC), and the Marine Sciences Building sophisticated tank test facility. Added to these facilities are extensive research capabilities available through the region’s universities, including the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, University of Bath, University of
Bristol and University of Southampton, and centres of excellence such as the National Composites Centre and Plymouth Marine Laboratories. A key role for the SWMEP partnership will be to foster collaborative research and ensure that investment continues to be prioritised to create a ‘Technology Pathway’ for marine energy from concept design to commercial deployment.
A key role for the SWMEP partnership will be to foster collaborative research and ensure that investment continues to be prioritised to create a ‘Technology Pathway’ for marine energy from concept design to commercial deployment. Wind&WaveCONNECT
17
SWMEP Dr Lars Johanning is Academic Lead of the Renewable Energy Group and has established a leading role in the international research community in the field of hydrodynamics, mooring systems, reliability and marine operations for marine renewable energy (MRE) devices. Within his role he is responsible for the SWMTF and the Dynamic Marine Component test rig (DMaC), has leading roles on national and international research projects, and is an expert member to the IEC/TC114 on mooring standard developments for MREs.
Email: [email protected]
16
Wind&WaveCONNECT
A NATURAL HOME FOR WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY The South West Marine Energy Park as a cornerstone for developing devices to meet the 2020 target Words: Dr Lars Johanning
Feature
SWMEP
T
he UK is compelled to increase the amount of low-carbon electricity generation to meet its legally-binding 2050 carbon
reduction targets under the Climate Change Act. This will require a mix of low-carbon technologies, and wave energy generation schemes will be an important part of the overall portfolio. The Carbon Trust Marine Energy Accelerator study (with the Crown Estate) assessed key UK sites subject to spatial constraint and suggested that there are 50, and 21TWh/year of wave and tidal energy in UK waters that could be developed by already known technologies. This represents a total capacity of over 22GW – an order of magnitude greater than the existing 2020 aspirational target of 2GW. The study suggested further that by 2035 the wave and tidal energy sector in the UK could employ 19,500 individuals, draw investment of £6.1bn and annually generate £800m Gross Valued Added to the UK economy.
The key strategy is to develop a strong facilities base in the SW allied to an integrated supply chain and services With more than 600 miles of Atlantic coastline and powerful tides, the South West (SW) is the natural home of an exceptional marine sector and an emerging centre for the development of wave and tidal energy. The UK government has invested nearly £19.5m in the region, approximately half of which was focused on Wave Hub on the North coast. The SW marine industry is recognised as a vital ‘priority’ sector for the future prosperity of the region. This diverse and dynamic sector has increasing demand for undersea exploration, cable laying and of
course the development of marine renewables – all of which the SW already has a lead in – and therefore that figure seems certain to rise. To underline this ambition, the official launch of the SW Marine Energy Park (SWMEP) in January 2012 by the UK Energy Minister Rt Hon Greg Barker presents a unique model to implement the SW ambition to become a ‘strategic area’ for offshore renewable energy. The SWMEP demonstrates a joined-up approach in a ‘triple helix’ cluster of governmental, industry and knowledge transfer representatives. The key strategy is to develop a strong facilities base in the SW allied to an integrated supply chain and services, to significantly improve the overall attractiveness of the region as a cornerstone of device development and operation. The SWMEP will bring together physical and commercial assets and resources, to create a positive business environment in order to attract investment and accelerate the commercialisation of marine energy and create a global industry, addressing aspects such as resources, infrastructure, stakeholder support, finance, supply chain, ports etc. Furthermore, in the past seven years the SW has invested over £100m to provide world-leading research and demonstration facilities including: Wave Hub commercial array demonstration area; FabTest nursery site in Falmouth Bay; the SW Mooring Test Facility (SWMTF); the dynamic marine component test facility (DMaC), and the Marine Sciences Building sophisticated tank test facility. Added to these facilities are extensive research capabilities available through the region’s universities, including the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, University of Bath, University of
Bristol and University of Southampton, and centres of excellence such as the National Composites Centre and Plymouth Marine Laboratories. A key role for the SWMEP partnership will be to foster collaborative research and ensure that investment continues to be prioritised to create a ‘Technology Pathway’ for marine energy from concept design to commercial deployment.
A key role for the SWMEP partnership will be to foster collaborative research and ensure that investment continues to be prioritised to create a ‘Technology Pathway’ for marine energy from concept design to commercial deployment. Wind&WaveCONNECT
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