npower1, one of the UK's largest energy companies, has today confirmed that it will provide funding to the BWEA2 for a project that will provide a 'route map' for the future of wave and tidal stream development around the UK3.
The project, entitled 'The npower Juice Path to Power', will examine the technical resource, environmental & regulatory constraints, grid capacity, and financing requirements for the marine renewables sector. The findings will help to take this exciting new industry from prototype deployment to commercial reality.
The final report, due in May 2006, will provide the basis for a flexible strategic plan for commercial development of the sector, taking into account the needs of industry, regulators and environmental stakeholders. Funding for the project will be provided through the npower Juice Fund4, which has been set up specifically to aid the development of emerging renewable technologies such as wave and tidal power.
Michael Hay, Marine Renewables Development Manager at BWEA, said:
"This project will be vital in ensuring that we reach a consensus on the location requirements for marine renewables over the coming years whilst highlighting what measures will need to be put in place to bring projects towards commercial reality. In doing this it will also set out the requirements for the marine renewables sector at a critical time in the debate surrounding the Marine Bill and Marine Spatial Planning."
Wayne Cranstone of npower said:
"This study is exactly the type of initiative the npower Juice Fund was designed to support, as it will help bring this exciting new industry another step closer to commercial reality. npower is proud to be funding this project and we look forward to seeing the results next spring. It is important to us and to our Juice customers to encourage the development of new renewable technologies, such as wave and tidal power, to help in the fight against climate change.
"The Government has set challenging targets for the development of renewable energy. Onshore wind farms, hydroelectric power stations and biomass projects will help us meet the short term targets of supplying 10% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010. We also need large scale offshore wind farms and marine technologies to be developed as quickly as possible in order to help meet long term renewables targets."
Contacts
Karen Jones - PR Manager, npower renewables
T: 0118 959 2440
Michael Hay - Marine Renewables Development Manager, BWEA
T: 0207 689 1960
Editors Notes
-
npower is one of the UK's top three energy suppliers and draws on 50 years experience in supplying electricity and gas. npower offers a range of essential home and business services including energy efficiency, to 6 million customers across the UK. Through npower renewables, the company is also one of the UK's leading renewable energy developers and operators with a portfolio of 15 wind farms and 12 hydroelectric projects.
- The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is the UK's leading renewable energy body with over 320 companies in membership. With 27 years of representing the wind industry, BWEA expanded its mission to champion the UK marine renewable sector in February 2004 and now has over 110 marine companies within membership. For more information about BWEA, please visit www.bwea.com/marine.
- The study is being project managed by BWEA and will draw upon individuals from Bond Pearce Solicitors, ABP Marine Environmental Research, Econnect Ltd and Climate Change Capital. The contract is valued at around £50,000.
-
Juice has been developed through a partnership between npower and Greenpeace. It is generated from a number of renewable energy sources, primarily at Britain's first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle off the North Wales coast. npower has made a commitment to purchase enough electricity from renewable sources to match the Juice customers' electricity consumption throughout each year. For more information about npower Juice please visit www.npower.com/At_home/Juice-clean_and_green.html.
Press Release
