Expertise from Bath is to play a key role in the UK’s first marine energy park, which was launched today.
The University of Bath’s department of mechanical engineering and its centre for sustainable power distribution, which is working on renewable power generation, are involved in research for the South West Marine Energy Park (MEP), an area stretching from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly.
Climate change minister Greg Barker was in Bristol today to launch the MEP, which underpins the South West’s reputation as a green region and places in firmly on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.
The park will create a collaborative partnership in the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and industry including Cornwall’s Wave Hub. The aim of the partnership will be to speed up the progress of marine power development.
Energy from the waves or tides has the potential to generate up to 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050, equivalent to the power generated from 8 coal-fired power stations, as well as helping to reduce emissions to fight climate change.
That, in turn, could generate £4.5bn for the regional economy and create more than 5,000 jobs from 2020 onwards.
Ahead of today’s announcement, Mr 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.”
