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RDA Low Carbon comment

piece and today’s webinar
Added by sw rda in Zero Carbon Economy on JULY 15TH, 2009 Subscribe to press releases:
Tagged w ith: energy , environment , green , marine , South , w est

The South West has been named the UK’s first low carbon
economy zone, putting it in the vanguard of the new green
industrial revolution. Stephen Peacock from the South West RDA More subscription options
explains why.

Main Topics:

The South West has been named the UK’s first low carbon economy zone,
putting it in the vanguard of the new green industrial revolution. Stephen Peacock
from the South West RDA explains why.

A few days ago I found myself standing on the South West Coast Path in a
howling gale being asked by a reporter why our region was at the forefront of Related Releases
renewable energy development.
Webinar invite: South West at the
Fortunately the prevailing force seven wind, coupled with brilliant sunshine and forefront of the Government’s Low Carbon

the steady pounding of Atlantic rollers in the distance, answered the question for Agenda

me. £10m boost for South West marine

energy research
Because when it comes to natural resources, be it wind, solar or wave and tidal, Wave Hub chooses Orecon as new

our region is blessed with all of them in abundance. device developer

RDA welcomes Government’s study into
The challenge is how we make the most of that accident of geography and Marine Energy

harness those natural resources for the benefit of our environment and our RDA welcomes the budget focus on
economy. skills and green economy

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17/07/2009 RDA Low Carbon comment piece …
And we have no choice but to meet that challenge because in the future there will
be no such thing as a high carbon economy. Recent Releases
RDA Low Carbon comment piece and
That’s why the designation by the Government of the South West as the UK’s
today’s webinar
first low carbon economic area because of our expertise in marine energy is such
South West named global leader for
a tremendous boost for our region.
marine energy
Webinar invite: South West at the
What it means - apart from £19.5 million of new investment - is that we are being
forefront of the Government’s Low Carbon
recognised for our clear strengths when it comes to tapping the power of the sea,
Agenda
be it though the waves that pound our shores or the tides and rise and fall around
RDAs support Tourism for All’s launch of
our 700-mile coastline.
OpenBritain, the new national guide to
accessible accommodation for disabled
It shows the world that not only are we serious about making the transition to a
people.
low carbon economy, but we can become global leaders while doing it.
South West RDA invests £1.7m to retain
the region’s talent
It’s no exaggeration to say that low carbon is the defining industrial opportunity of
the age. Those who grasp it will capture the enormous economic rewards that
stem from creating new low carbon businesses and selling our technology and
services around the world. It’s a market estimated to be worth £4.3 trillion by Tags
2015.
2012 Olympic and Paralympic boost

And we are grasping it. I’m proud that investments we have made in the region budget business business
have put us in the vanguard of this new industrial revolution. link Business Link Advisers carbon
footprint Cornwall Cornw all County
Take Wave Hub for example, the RDA’s £42 million project to create the world’s Council creative industries credit
largest test bed for wave energy 10 miles off the South West coast. This week it crunch Department for Business
has secured £9.5 million from the Government and £20 million from the European Development Fund eco
Regional Development Fund, which means it will be built next year. economy energy
enterprise environment European
We’ve spent seven years to get to this point and jumped through every
Regional Evaluation Report Exeter
conceivable hoop to make Wave Hub happen, because it has never been done
government green Impact
before. What we have learned - and continue to learn - has real value in a global
investment Jane Henderson
market.
marine Mayor of Restormel

Another investment has been the £7.3 million we are putting into the Peninsula Portland power
Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy. A collaboration between two of Pricew aterhouseCoopers PWC

the region’s top universities, it has already attracted 15 world-class academics RDA recovery South
and a 60-strong research staff, who are at the cutting edge of wave and tidal
energy research.
West South West Investment Group
(Capital) Ltd South West RDA St
Austell support SWIG Capital
It’s probably the greatest concentration of marine energy knowledge anywhere in
tourism Train to Gain Brokers
the world, and that makes our region even more attractive to low carbon
university wave Wave Hub
businesses.

If you add up the investment in Wave Hub, academic research, enhanced support
for start-ups and growth businesses, supply chain development, science parks,
business premises and port infrastructure, the total investment in marine energy
in the South West from the RDA, central Government, Europe and the private
sector over the next two years will top £100 million.

That’s a huge shot in the arm for such a young industry which is arguably at the
same stage that powered flight was back in 1903. And look at how far we’ve
come since the Wright brothers.

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17/07/2009 RDA Low Carbon comment piece …
As an aside, we’re also investing £10.5 million to help the region’s aerospace
industry develop light-weight materials for aircraft wings and more environmentally
friendly engines. It’s another example of how the South West can lead the
transition to a low carbon economy.

So as we strive to create a global industry out of another by-product of our

geological good fortune - the waves - it is worth remembering that we’ve done it
before. Our region’s natural resources, ranging from copper and tin in Cornwall to
the Somerset coalfields and Dartmoor granite quarries, made the South West a
crucible of the industrial revolution.

The challenges presented by burgeoning commerce - be it in the mines, on the

railways or at our ports and harbours - attracted some of the greatest innovators
of the Victorian age, men such as Watt and Brunel, Davy and Trevithick.

Their innovation and knowledge was exported around the world and there is no
reason why we should not follow in their footsteps as we forge a new green
revolution from the power of the sea.

Stephen Peacock is Executive Director Enterprise and Innovation at the South

West Regional Development Agency.

Addtional information

Contact:

Jason Clark

Tel: 01208 77900

E: jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk

Related links and further reading

Wave Hub
South West RDA
Recorded video from today’s webinar announcement

Related images

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17/07/2009 RDA Low Carbon comment piece …

For high resolution photography please visit our Flickr site

Related Video

Notes to editors
Recorded video from today’s event is available on
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1811552

The South West RDA is committed to providing a first class news service where
new features and additional material will be added over the coming months. If you
would like to make any suggestions about content or structure or how to improve
our service to you please email news.enquiries@southwestrda.org.uk

Jump to top

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17/07/2009 South West named global leader …
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South West named global

leader for marine energy
Added by sw rda in Business Support and Enterprise on JULY 15TH, 2009 Subscribe to press releases:
Tagged w ith: low carbon green environment marine energy south w est cornw all

Region is UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area

- Investment in marine renewables will top £100m
- Wave Hub gets the official go ahead More subscription options

The South West of England will become a world centre for wave
and tidal energy under plans published by the UK Government
Media Archives
today.

The region has been designated as the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area
because of its strength in marine energy.

The UK Government will make £19.5 million available as part of a £100 million
Main Topics:
two-year investment programme in marine renewables being led by the South
West RDA (Regional Development Agency).
The Government investment includes £9.5 million for the RDA’s pioneering Wave
Hub project, which received the official go-ahead from the South West RDA today
and could create more than 1,800 jobs in the UK. A further £10 million has been
made available for the RDA to support other marine energy projects in the South
West.

The ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme

Related Releases
also announced today that it will invest £20 million in Wave Hub, which will be
commissioned next summer. The first equipment orders have been placed this No related releases
week.

With government, RDA, European and private sector funding, total investment in
Recent Releases
the South West’s marine energy programme in the next two years is expected to
top £100 million, putting the region at the forefront of this emerging global RDA Low Carbon comment piece and
industry. video of announcement (15/07/09)
South West named global leader for
Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, named marine energy
the South West as the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area at the launch of the Webinar invite: South West at the
Government’s Low Carbon Industrial Strategy in London today. (July 15) forefront of the Government’s Low Carbon
Agenda
Stephen Peacock, Enterprise and Innovation Executive Director at the South RDAs support Tourism for All’s launch of
West RDA said: “This is about a new industry and new jobs, and the South OpenBritain, the new national guide to
accessible accommodation for disabled
…southwestrda.org.uk/…/south-w… 1/5
17/07/2009 South West named global leader …
West’s critical role in building a greener global economy. Being identified as the accessible accommodation for disabled
UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area is a tremendous accolade and recognition people.
of our commitment to develop this unprecedented economic opportunity. We South West RDA invests £1.7m to retain
want to forge a new industry from the seas around our shores and today’s the region’s talent
announcements cement our position as a global leader in wave and tidal
technologies.

Tags
“We also welcome the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy which sets out a range of
opportunities to ensure that we take advantage of a global market for low carbon 2012 Olympic and Paralympic boost

products and services that could be worth £4.3 trillion by 2015.” budget business business
link Business Link Advisers carbon
The announcements mark a significant milestone in the Wave Hub project, a footprint Cornwall Cornw all County
giant grid-connected socket on the seabed off the coast of Cornwall for wave Council creative industries credit
energy devices to be tested on a scale not seen before. The South West RDA crunch Department for Business
has today confirmed: Development Fund eco
economy energy
- Total Wave Hub project now valued at £42 million, with funding secured from the
enterprise environment European
UK Government (£9.5m), ERDF (£20m) and the RDA (£12.5m).
- The project has the capacity to generate 20MW of green electricity with the
Regional Evaluation Report Exeter
potential to be scaled up to 50MW in the future.
government green Impact

- Legal agreements signed with leading renewable energy company Ocean investment Jane Henderson

Power Technologies Limited (”OPT”) to take the first berth at Wave Hub using its marine Mayor of Restormel
PowerBuoy wave energy converter. Portland power
- JDR Cable Systems Ltd has been appointed to manufacture the 26.5 km (16.5 Pricew aterhouseCoopers PWC
mile) cable and hub assembly for Wave Hub at its new factory in Hartlepool in a
RDA recovery South
contract worth £7.6 million.
- RDA research and development grant of £229,000 awarded to wave device
West South West Investment Group
(Capital) Ltd South West RDA St
developer Orecon in Bodmin, Cornwall, with a view to the company coming to
Wave Hub in the future. Austell support SWIG Capital

- Contract for onshore electrical package expected to be let in the next few tourism Train to Gain Brokers

weeks. university wave Wave Hub

- Applications being invited for the position of Wave Hub general manager, who
will lead the operation of Wave Hub.

The RDA’s Stephen Peacock added: “It’s all systems go for Wave Hub. We have
our consent, our funding, and our first developer signed up. Ocean Power
Technologies has been working with us from the start and are one of the world’s
leading wave energy companies. We’re delighted to have them on board.”

Angus Norman, Chief Executive of OPT Ltd, said: “OPT has provided unwavering
support to Wave Hub and the South West region’s vision to create a world-class
centre for the marine energy industry over the past five years. As a result, we are
proud to be the first to sign a Commitment Agreement to make this project a
commercial reality. With major new funding and final approval today, Wave Hub
is sure to become a global showcase for wave power technology and means that
it is now gaining momentum as a viable source of renewable energy.”

Carolyn Rule, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Cornwall

Council, said: “Today’s announcements mark a huge investment in Cornwall’s
low carbon economy and put us at the forefront of green energy and green job
creation, both of which are priorities for Cornwall Council and our partners.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall

and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The Convergence Programmes for Cornwall and the

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17/07/2009 South West named global leader …
Isles of Scilly recognise the importance of the environment as an economic
driver. Cornwall’s economic development strategy complements the low carbon
aspiration of the region in delivering real change on the ground. These
announcements and investment from the ERDF Convergence Programme are the
continuation of a journey to re-engineer our economy to exploit the opportunities
in a global market which is estimated at trillions of dollars over the next few
years.”

An independent economic impact assessment of Wave Hub, commissioned by

the RDA, has shown that it could create 1,800 jobs and £560 million in the UK
economy over 25 years. Almost 1,000 of these jobs and £332 million could be
generated in South West England.

The South West’s marine energy industry is supported by the £15 million
Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), set up
two years ago by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth with funding from the
South West RDA and Europe. It offers world-leading expertise at the cutting edge
of the industry and already boasts 15 world-class academic staff, 60 researchers
and a dedicated technology transfer team that works with businesses to support
high quality job creation.

Today’s announcements form part of the Government’s Low Carbon Industrial

Strategy and coincide with a suite of other policy announcements including
publication of the Government’s energy and climate change White Paper,
Renewable Energy Strategy and Carbon Reduction Strategy for Transport, which
together form a low carbon transition plan to decarbonise Britain’s economy, cut
emissions and meet renewable energy targets.

Addtional information
Ends

For more information contact Jason Clark, on 01208-77900 or via

jason@dca-pr.co.uk

Related links and further reading

Wave Hub
South West RDA

Related images

…southwestrda.org.uk/…/south-w… 3/5
17/07/2009 South West named global leader …

For high resolution photography please visit our Flickr site

Related Video

Notes to editors
Notes to Editors

1. Images: show a new artist’s impression of the Wave Hub project, linked
to shore by a subsea cable (in red) with different types of wave energy
devices attached to the hub. Also attached are low resolution photographs
of OPT’s PowerBuoy wave energy converter. High resolution versions are
available from laura.tregonning@dca-pr.co.uk or download at
www.flickr.com/photos/southwestengland

2. The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable economy,

investing to unlock the region’s business potential. It is helping companies
respond to the economic crisis and charts a course for recovery. The RDA
is developing or expanding initiatives which include: establishing a Business
Loan Fund; coordinating the response to large companies in difficulty;
preparing for economic recovery.More information can be found at
www.southwestrda.org.uk

3. Ocean Power Technologies is a pioneer in wave-energy technology that

harnesses ocean wave resources to generate reliable, clean, and
environmentally-beneficial electricity. OPT has a strong track record in
harnessing wave energy and participates in a $150 billion annual power
generation equipment market. The Company’s proprietary PowerBuoy®
system is based on modular, ocean-going buoys that capture and convert
predictable wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The Company is
widely recognised as a leading developer of on-grid and autonomous wave-
energy generation systems, benefiting from over a decade of in-ocean
experience. OPT’s technology and systems are insured by Lloyds
Underwriters of London. OPT has offices in Warwick, UK and Pennington,
NJ. More information can be found at www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

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17/07/2009 South West named global leader …
4. Convergence programmes: In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the
Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development
Fund (£347 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) Convergence
Programmes will run until 2013 and follow the successful Objective One
Programme and prior to that Objective 5b. For further information see:
www.convergencecornwall.com

5. £100 million investment in the marine renewables industry in the South

West over the next two years includes £42 million in Wave Hub, £15 million
in PRIMaRE, £10 million additional support announced today from UK
Government (excluding Wave Hub), £4.5 million in business support and
supply chain development plus further anticipated investment from the RDA,
European Regional Development Fund and private sector in a range of
emerging projects including marine renewables related business premises
and port infrastructure.

6. Wave Hub is a major marine renewables infrastructure project that will

create an electrical ’socket’ on the seabed in some 50 metres of water
around 10 miles off the coast of Cornwall in South West England and
connected to the National Grid via a subsea cable. Groups of wave energy
devices will be connected to Wave Hub and float on or just below the
surface of the sea to assess how well they work and how much power they
generate before going into full commercial production. There are four berths
available at Wave Hub, each covering two square kilometres. Wave Hub will
have an initial maximum capacity of 20MW (enough electricity to power
approximately 7,000 homes) but has been designed with the potential to
scale up to 50MW in the future. The project will be built in the summer of
2010 with the first wave energy devices expected to be deployed in 2011.

The South West RDA is committed to providing a first class news service where
new features and additional material will be added over the coming months. If you
would like to make any suggestions about content or structure or how to improve
our service to you please email news.enquiries@southwestrda.org.uk

Jump to top

©2009 South West RDA

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