First phase of marine energy testing begins in Pembrokeshire

THE first phase of marine energy testing off-shore areas in the Milford Haven waterway are open for business.

Marine Energy Wales has been leading the project with eight pre-consented sites located in and around the Milford Haven Waterway.

The  Marine Energy Test Area (META) project has opened five sites adjacent to Pembroke Dock port aiming to help developers deploy and develop their marine energy technologies.

Part of the the overall Pembroke Dock Marine project part funded by the Swansea Bay City deal it offers easy access for testing marine energy equipment in low risk areas.

The £1.9 million project is being supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, alongside the Coastal Communities Fund.

Joseph Kidd, Operations and Development Manager for META, said: “We’re delighted to officially say that we are open for business. The purpose of META is to reduce the time, cost and risks faced by marine energy developers to accelerate development in the sector, and this growth has never been more critical.

“We are facing a climate emergency and marine energy will play a significant role in reaching our 2050 net-zero emission targets. Public support for the sector is also at an all-time high, so we can’t wait to start welcoming our first customers and getting kit into the water.”

Mainstay Marine Solutions in Pembroke Dock diversified from a boat building business to focus on the renewable sector and has  worked with a number of wave and tidal energy projects.

Charlotte Wood, Business Development Manager, said: “META is very important for us because it will further develop a marine energy hub in Pembroke Dock that will help de-risk projects for developers coming into the region by allowing them to dip test their marine energy devices. Until we get devices ‘wet’, we don’t know what problems will arise, so META is a great opportunity to do this.”