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South West to host first Marine Energy Park

The South West has been marked as the first Marine Energy Park today, by Climate Change Minister Greg Barker.

The announcement was made in Bristol, as Mr Barker met with key members of the new initiative.

It is hoped that the move will place the region on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.

The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly.

It aims to create a collaborative partnership across the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter, and industry including Cornwall’s famous Wave Hub.

Greg Barker said: “This is a real milestone for the marine industry and for the South West region in securing its place in renewables history as the first official marine energy park.

“The South West can build on its existing unique mix of renewable energy resource and home-grown academic, technical and industrial expertise.

“Marine power has huge potential in the UK not just in contributing to a greener electricity supply and cutting emissions, but in supporting thousands of jobs in a sector worth a possible £15bn to the economy to 2050.

“The UK is already a world leader in wave and tidal power, so we should capitalise on this leadership to make marine power a real contender in the future energy market.”

The work to develop the Park has been commissioned by Corwall Council and Plymouth City Council, with the work undertaken by Regen SW, the South West Renewable Energy Agency.

Johnny Gowdy, programme director at Regen SW commented that the park would put the region in a position to attract future investment, and to be at the forefront of the new global marine energy industry.

Chris Ridgers, Cabinet member for economy at Cornwall Council , said: “Cornwall’s marine energy programme is reinforced by more than a thousand years of industrial heritage.

“The land and the sea have provided the foundation of Cornish entrepreneurship in engineering and innovation, recognised across the world. Now, in the 21st century, Cornwall continues to provide the perfect balance between resource, people and infrastructure supporting the South West Marine Energy Park and unlocking the potential of a global industry.”

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Vivien Pengelly, added: “The opportunity for growth and increased commercialisation in marine renewable energy, which underpins the ethos of the South West Marine Energy Park, represents a major opportunity to help Plymouth’s economy generate investment and jobs.

“Plymouth has world, class research and development expertise in this field along with a strong marine business base and advanced manufacturing sector and looks forward to working closely with its private and public sector partners to make the South West Marine Energy Park a success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .