The Commercial Director will be responsible for leading contractual negotiations with device developers, identifying new business opportunities and managing delivery of a new corporate strategy. Applications are particularly sought from candidates with well developed commercial negotiation skills and international experience of the energy sector and business development.

This is a full-time position based in the Hayle office in Cornwall.

For full details on the role and how to apply please contact Helen Wilson-Prowse on +44 (0) 1736 800290 or by email at helen.wilson-prowse@wavehub.co.uk.

Closing date for applications is 24 May 2013

The Minister, who was on a two-day visit to the region, was given a guided tour of the FaB Test marine energy nursery site in Falmouth Bay by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, who operate the site.

He was accompanied by representatives from Wave Hub, the grid-connected offshore marine renewables test site on the north Cornwall coast; the University of Exeter; South West Marine Energy Park; local supply chain businesses and Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton.

Speaking after the visit, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “I was delighted to see for myself the real progress being made in marine power at Fab Test in Falmouth Bay, and the ‘Bolt Lifesaver’ wave energy device in action out at sea.

“Fab Test is a great example of the commitment to drive the marine industry forward in the South West, home to the first of theUK’s Marine Energy Parks.

“I want to see this sector build on growth so far and bring these innovative technologies to market and it’s great to seeCornwallandDevonrising to the challenge.”

FaB Test is currently home to Fred Olsen’s BOLT “Lifesaver” wave energy converter, which has been undergoing tests for the last year prior to a potential deployment at Wave Hub in the future.

Captain Mark Sansom, Chief Executive and Harbour Master at Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, said: “We took the Minister out to see the Lifesaver in action and explained how FaB Test and thePortofFalmouthare supporting the development of marine renewables. The site is attracting international interest and we are dealing with a number of other enquiries for devices to be tested on the site.”

Wave Hub general manager Claire Gibson said: “FaB Test is part of a growing network of marine energy facilities in the region which includes Wave Hub and is part of theSouthWestMarineEnergyPark, which the Minister launched last year. His visit was a great opportunity to update him on progress and explain howCornwallis playing a key role in theUK’s marine energy industry.”

Mr Barker’s visit toCornwallwas on 25 and 26 April and included the official opening of the National Solar Centre in St Austell.

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01 May 2013

Notes to Editors

Photography shows (l-r): Sarah Newton MP, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and Dave Ellis, Chairman of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.

1. FaB Test consists of a pre-consented two square kilometre area of sea between two and three kilometres offshore inFalmouthBay offering a range of depth and seabed types in three berths. It enables wave energy generation device developers to conduct sea trials of their devices and components in moderate seas with excellent access to nearby port infrastructure. FaB Test’s pre-consented status aims to maximise deployment efficiencies and minimise costs to applicants and complements the grid-connected facilities at Wave Hub 10 nautical miles off the north coast ofCornwall.

FaB Test has been driven by a steering group made of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC), University of Exeter and Wave Hub, with input from the marine energy support industry in Cornwall including the A&P Group and Mojo Maritime.  The management of the site is undertaken by a partnership between FHC and the University of Exeter.

For more information please email info@fabtest.co.uk

2. Wave Hub consists of a giant ‘socket’ on the seabed connected to the national grid on shore by an underwater cable, into which wave energy devices can be ‘plugged’ and tested on a scale not seen anywhere before. The project has four berths available and a capacity of 20MW, equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 7,000 homes.

Wave Hub is publicly-owned by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which has set up a stand-alone operating company, Wave Hub Limited, based in Hayle, Cornwall, to manage the day-to-day operation of the testing facility on its behalf.

3. Wave Hub is a £30 million construction project funded with £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £13.5 million from the UK Government.

4. Wave Hub is a partner in the South West Marine Energy Park.

5. Follow Wave Hub on Twitter @wavehub, or visit www.wavehub.co.uk

For more information contact:

Jason Clark

DCA Public Relations

01208-77900

07980-834368

jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk

Wave Hub, which is a grid-connected offshore energy test facility 10 miles off the north coast of Cornwall, could host the project as early as 2015. The demonstrator would remain in place for between eight and 10 years.

The ETI has also confirmed US-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten Associates as the company that will design the demonstrator. It will develop a PelaStar tension leg platform (TLP) prototype in partnership with Alstom, using their Haliade 150-6MW offshore wind turbine.

Wave Hub general manager Claire Gibson said: “We are delighted the ETI has selected Wave Hub as its preferred site for this innovative floating wind project. We very much look forward to working with their partners, Glosten Associates and Alstom, to enable this project to be installed at the site by 2015.

“With support from the ETI preparatory work is already underway. A geophysical survey of the Wave Hub site has recently been completed to inform a more detailed geotechnical investigation in the summer, and we are analysing the available metocean data for the Wave Hub site to inform the design of the floating wind platform.

“Our current work to upgrade the onshore substation, part of our strategy to future-proof Wave Hub for deployments of larger wave energy arrays within the existing consented site, will also enable us to accommodate the 6MW prototype in a single berth.”

The ETI is commissioning and funding a Front End Engineering Design Study (FEED) that will take about 12 months to complete and cost £4m. During this time Wave Hub will also apply for the necessary consents to enable offshore wind to be deployed at the site.  The ETI will then decide whether to invest up to £21m in the construction and deployment of the demonstrator project which would occupy one of Wave Hub’s four berths.

To read the ETI press release click here

Copy ends

Notes to Editors

1. The attached computer generated image shows how the demonstrator project could look.

2.Wave Hub consists of a giant ‘socket’ on the seabed connected to the grid network onshore by an underwater cable. It has consent for wave energy devices to be ‘plugged’ and tested on a scale not seen anywhere before. The project has four berths available and a capacity of 20MW, equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 7,000 homes.

3.Wave Hub is publicly-owned by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which has set up a stand-alone operating company, Wave Hub Limited, based in Hayle,Cornwall, to manage the day-to-day operation of the testing facility on its behalf.

4. Wave Hub is a £30 million construction project funded with £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £13.5 million from the UK Government.

5. Wave Hub is a partner in the South West Marine Energy Park.

6. Follow Wave Hub on Twitter @wavehub, or visit www.wavehub.co.uk

7. The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is a public-private partnership between global industries – BP, Caterpillar, EDF, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell – and the UK Government. Public sector representation is through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with funding channelled through the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The Department of Energy and Climate Change are observers on the Board. The ETI is focused on accelerating the deployment of affordable, secure low-carbon energy systems for 2020 to 2050 by demonstrating technologies, developing knowledge, skills and supply-chains and informing the development of regulation, standards and policy. www.eti.co.uk

8. The Glosten Associates is an engineering company recognised throughout the marine community for innovative solutions, integrating cutting-edge analysis with practical, experience-based design. Glosten brings the wind power industry the capability to provide complete offshore solutions – balancing the development of optimal designs requiring optimal motions and advanced structural systems with the realities of construction, operations, and maintenance logistics. www.glosten.com

For more information contact:

Wave Hub

Jason Clark

DCA Public Relations

01208-77900

07980-834368

jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk

 OR

Energy Technologies Institute

Richard Robinson

Media Relations Manager

01509 202026

07500 049626

richard.robinson@eti.co.uk

The GBI (R&D) fund is available to those currently working on concept or prototype development; as well as early stage demonstration or deployment of marine renewable devices. This funding can provide critical support to those seeking to deploy at FaB Test or Wave Hub over the next two years.

FaB Test is a non-grid connected nursery test site inFalmouthBayoff the south coast ofCornwallfor the testing of components and devices. Wave Hub a grid-connected offshore marine energy test site, some 10 miles from the north coast of Cornwall built for testing full-scale wave energy arrays.

As well as testing infrastructure,Cornwallboasts world-leading academic research and expertise in marine energy and an extensive supply chain. It is also part of the South West Marine Energy Park which exists to accelerate the commercialisation of marine energy in the region. The GBI (R&D) fund has been created in response to the growing sector demand.

Claire Gibson, Wave Hub general manager, said: “The ability to secure sufficient funding remains a significant issue for the marine energy industry so this investment will be a welcome boost. The eligible activity ranges from feasibility studies right through to support with berthing fees so we hope it will act as a catalyst for device deployments at FaB Test and Wave Hub.”

Johnny Gowdy, programme manager, South West Marine Energy Park added:

“It’s great to see that Cornwall is continuing to invest in the marine energy sector. The creation of FaB Test last year is another example of this and, alongside Wave Hub, is now attracting interest from technology developers from around the world. This fund goes even further to support innovation within the industry and will be a great help for technology developers, and their supply chain companies, who are aiming to deploy marine energy devices in the south west.“

Paul Catterall, Development Manager at The Crown Estate added:

“The Crown Estate welcomes this funding for marine energy technology development in Cornwall. By speeding up development, it will help wave and tidal farms to be brought forwards. We are pleased to be continuing to work closely with Cornwall Council and other partners in the South West Marine Energy Park to help commercialise the industry.”

Chris Pomfret, Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership concluded:

“We know that financial support is critical at this stage of development. This fund will help developers bring forward their devices at a faster pace and prove their commercial viability. At a later stage in development it would be expected that private capital support for full exploitation will be forthcoming. We will be measuring the impact of the fund, and if proven successful, will be looking to create a similar scheme in the next round of European funding to help continue to support this dynamic sector.”

Grant funding may be used to support a wide range of costs related to the development and deployment of marine energy technology, including feasibility studies, product design, consenting, offshore surveys, fabrication, installation, berthing fees and operations and maintenance.

Operating within the Grant for Business Investment (GBI) scheme, companies are able to apply for up to 45% match funding for this Research and Development activity.

Companies that are interested in applying for the GBI (R&D) fund should contact Sarah Tooze, DCLG, for an application form – Sarah.Tooze@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Companies that want to find out more about what Cornwall can offer as a potential location for their business should contact Invest in Cornwall – www.investincornwall.com; 01872 322 2951.

Mr George said: “The sea is a fantastic source of free energy if the Government can give the wave energy sector the boost it needs to properly trial commercial scale devices at the only commercial scale site in the world.

“This is an ambitious project but the long term dividends for energy security, the UK economy and the environment are massive. When we have a potential clean green source of power and the infrastructure to exploit it through Cornwall’s Wave Hub, it’s important to have full Ministerial backing to help the industry evolve. It could make a massive contribution to the UK’s commitment to cut carbon emissions and boost jobs in the green economy.”

This intervention by Andrew George MP was welcomed by Claire Gibson, the Wave Hub general manager: “We are grateful to Andrew George for raising this issue with the Minister as the wave energy industry is keen to explore what potential support may be available to accelerate its commercialisation given the recent Government support announced for the tidal sector.  We have offered to help Andrew pull together a representative industry group that can meet with the Minister and brief him about some of the challenges the industry faces, and to suggest some potential solutions.”

Ends.

For further information Andrew George MP can be contacted via his office on 0207 219 4588.

The official record of today’s debate can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/7/.

The agreement was officially signed on 28^th February at the Renewable UK Wave and Tidal Conference in London, and witnessed by Greg Barker, MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Fergus Ewing, MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism. 

The South West Marine Energy Park in South West England and the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park in the North of Scotland, were designated as the UK’s first marine energy parks in 2012 and are designed to accelerate the commercialisation of marine energy technologies.

Wave Hub, which is part of the South West MEP and is the world’s largest grid-connected wave energy test site, has welcomed the agreement as further evidence of the UK’s comprehensive offer to the global wave and tidal energy industry.

Wave Hub general manager Claire Gibson, who addressed the Renewable UK Wave and Tidal Conference about the role of testing facilities, said: “This agreement sends a clear and positive message to the industry that the UK is serious about accelerating commercial development of the marine energy sector.

“The two MEPs have much to offer each other and their complementary facilities and expertise are an enormous strength that can take projects from inception and prototype testing to full array deployment at Wave Hub. We look forward to working more closely with our Scottish colleagues to ensure that together the UK’s testing facilities continue to offer marine energy developers a technology pathway that is second to none.”

The agreement provides a basis for the two MEPs to work together to build relationships, address common issues affecting the industry and to encourage business and research collaboration.  It will also provide a means to exchange knowledge and best practice to ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of the global marine energy industry.

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28^th February 2013

Notes to Editors

 1.      Wave Hub consists of a giant ‘socket’ on the seabed connected to the national grid on shore by an underwater cable, into which wave energy devices can be ‘plugged’ and tested on a scale not seen anywhere before. The project has four berths available and a capacity of 20MW, equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 7,000 homes.

2.      Wave Hub is publicly-owned by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which has set up a stand-alone operating company, Wave Hub Limited, based in Hayle, Cornwall, to manage the day-to-day operation of the testing facility on its behalf.

3.      Wave Hub is a £30 million construction project funded with £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £13.5 million from the UK Government.

4.      Wave Hub is a partner in the South West Marine Energy Park.

5.      For more details about the South West MEP please download the prospectus at http://www.regensw.co.uk/projects/offshore-renewables/marine-energy-/marine-energy-parks or contact Johnny Gowdy at Regen SW on 01392 494399.

6.      Follow Wave Hub on Twitter @wavehub, or visit www.wavehub.co.uk

The Crown Estate has announced they are considering investing in the UK’s first wave and tidal stream array projects, in support of their strategy to encourage growth of the emerging industry.

This follows a report last year which found there is potential for tens of gigawatts of wave and tidal projects around the UK.

They are considering investing up to £20m in total in two wave and / or tidal stream projects, alongside other companies and in parallel with grant support from government. The investment will be in the construction of the projects, with each project involving multiple generation devices arranged in an array and with a total installed capacity of 3 megawatts or greater. To be eligible for investment, the projects must already have a Crown Estate agreement for lease, have or soon obtain statutory consents and grid connection agreements and realistically be expected to reach final decisions for capital investment by March 2014.

Commenting on the announcement, Rob Hastings, Director of the Energy and Infrastructure Portfolio, said: “Several wave and tidal stream technologies are now proven and it is timely for the industry to move on to demonstration projects. First arrays are important because they are on the critical path to larger schemes around the UK and worldwide. By bringing our capital and expertise to bear, we hope to catalyse investments by others and to see projects proceed to construction and operation as soon as possible.”

Developers are now invited to make expressions of interest about investment in their projects to The Crown Estate.

A guidance document, which includes full eligibility criteria, is available to download here:

first-array-investments-guidance

The deadline for responses is Friday 15 February 2013.

Any investment will be at The Crown Estate’s sole discretion and while they are keen to identify suitable targets for investment, it is not necessarily the case that any investment will be made.

Wave Hub expects the deployment of the one megawatt device to take place later this year. OEL is currently in discussions with local supply chain companies about support with fabrication and deployment, and hopes to operate from the newly refurbished North Quay in Hayle Harbour.

Claire Gibson, general manager at Wave Hub, which is the world’s largest grid-connected offshore marine energy test site, said: “We are delighted that OEL has been given the green light from the MMO to deploy the first wave energy device at Wave Hub and that the consent process has gone so smoothly. We look forward to assisting them with their deployment later this year.”

John McCarthy, chief executive and co-founder of OceanEnergy Ltd said: “Having completed successful trials of a scale device for over three years in Galway Bay we are delighted to be the first developer to be awarded a marine license to deploy at Wave Hub. This will enable us to proceed with our anchor trials at the Wave Hub site and test the proposed system prior to a full-scale deployment.”

A delegation from the MMO will be visiting Wave Hub and other marine energy facilities which make up the South West Marine Energy Park later this month.

Dr. Shaun Nicholson, Head of Offshore Licensing at the Marine Management Organisation said: “We are pleased to have granted the first licence at Wave Hub and look forward to learning more about future proposals for marine energy development in the South West during our visit.”

OEL is participating in this project with its technology partner Dresser-Rand, the largest service provider in the oil and gas industry. The OE Buoy weighs 650 tonnes, is 37.5 metres long, 18 metres wide and has a draft of 9.8 metres.

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8th January 2013

Notes to Editors

1. Wave Hub consists of a giant ‘socket’ on the seabed connected to the national grid on shore by an underwater cable, into which wave energy devices can be ‘plugged’ and tested on a scale not seen anywhere before. The project has four berths available and a capacity of 20MW, equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 7,000 homes.
2. Wave Hub is publicly-owned by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which has set up a stand-alone operating company, Wave Hub Limited, based in Hayle,Cornwall, to manage the day-to-day operation of the testing facility on its behalf.
3. Wave Hub is a £30 million construction project funded with £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £13.5 million from the UK Government.
4. Wave Hub is a partner in theSouthWestMarineEnergyPark.
5. Follow Wave Hub on Twitter @wavehub, or visit www.wavehub.co.uk
6. Ocean Energy Limited and Dresser-Rand have a Development and Supply Agreement to develop full-scale devices to produce commercial electricity. Dresser-Rand developed and patented the HydroAir™ turbine – a variable radius turbine that uses a combination of stainless steel, aluminium and reinforced composites to resist corrosion. The turbine is constructed to withstand the rigors of a marine environment, and demonstrates higher levels of efficiency when compared to existing impulse designs across a wide range of incident flows.
7. For more information about Ocean Energy, including videos of the OE Buoy in action, visit: www.oceanenergy.ie
8. The MMO is responsible for licensing offshore generating stations including wind farms, wave and tidal devices with a capacity between 1 and 100 megawatts. More information is available on the marine licensing section of the MMO website. Developers may also need to lease relevant areas of the seabed from The Crown Estate.

THIS year will go down in history as the time when Hayle started to reap the rewards of long-awaited investment and development, it has been claimed.Cornwall councillor John Pollard told more than 80 people at the official opening that the £16 million North Quay infrastructure project was the first improvement in the town for 60 to 100 years. It includes the bridge over Copperhouse Pool, repair of harbour walls on North and East Quay, the creation of a promenade along North Quay and flood protection works.

 ​

 

Cutting the ribbon to open the new Jubilee Bridge, from left, Stephen Rushworth, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economic development; Cornwall councillor John Pollard; Isaac Vanderplank, St Piran’s School; Ethan Bennet and Mia Hocking, both Bodriggy Academy; Matthew Sharp and Georgia Badcock, head boy and girl at Hayle Community School; Jasmine Cope and Tom Holman, Penpol School; James Hall, St Piran’s; town mayor Jayne Ninnes and Cornwall councillor John Coombe.

The ribbon was cut on the new Jubliee Bridge by Hayle Community School students Matthew Sharp and Georgia Badcock.

The scheme is set to be completed next month but the bridge and new road are open.

Mr Pollard said: “At last the people of Hayle can see that the town is moving forward. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Hayle and we are grateful to all who have worked so hard over the last three years to make it a reality.

“The new Jubilee Bridge stands above a canal built in 1769, between two quays, one built in 1740, the other 1818 beside the route of a railway constructed in 1837. One day 2012 will be quoted as the date when new infrastructure provided the possibility of growth and jobs and the day when the renovation of our harbour began.”

The infrastructure project will unlock the development sites on North Quay, owned by harbour developers ING, which include 14,000sq m of new commercial and industrial workspace.

It will also support the development of the proposed £42 million Marine Renewables Business Park.

After a tour of the new North Quay promenade, hoped to open the harbour area for tourists, Cornwall councillor John Coombe said: “It is a dream come true – a great day for Hayle and hopefully the start of a bright future. We have had 50 years of decay and decline and this is the beginning of putting Hayle back on the map.”

The scheme has been funded by the Government, European Development Convergence money and Cornwall Council. Work started in February 2011 by Cornwall Council and contractors Carillion.

Story from The Cornishman, 13th December 2012

The pioneering project scooped the Best Business Innovation category in the Regen South West Green Energy Awards 2012, which were presented at a gala dinner in Bath on 20 November.

FaB Test gives marine energy developers the chance to test devices in a pre-licensed and consented area of near shore environment that is easily accessible.

Regen SW’s Green Energy Awards celebrate renewable energy achievements in the South West of the UK, and aim to highlight examples of innovation and drive forward the sustainability agenda in the region.

An independent panel of judges described the project as “an important step forward for the South West marine renewables sector,” while Regen SW chief executive Merlin Hyman described all the finalists as “exemplars in their field”.

Falmouth Harbour Master Captain Mark Sansom said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this coveted award and we hope it will further promote Falmouth’s potential as a centre for the development of marine energy.

“FaB Test is already playing an important role as part of the South West Marine Energy Park as it allows essential technology testing to be carried out in sheltered waters, close to Falmouth’s excellent port facilities.”

The project originated as a partnership between FHC, Wave Hub, the University of Exeter, A&P Group, Cornwall Marine Network and Mojo Maritime, the FabTest site is centred about two miles south of St Anthony Head.

In April 2012, FaB Test welcomed the first wave device to be installed for testing. Fred Olsen’s BOLT “Lifesaver” wave energy converter is currently being tested at the site, before potentially being deployed at the grid connected Wave Hub site, off the Cornish Coast near Hayle.

For more information and industry enquiries about FaB Test please email info@fabtest.co.uk.