Channel MOR Project: Final Report
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A COMMON TERRITORY FOR FAST-TRACKING MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS January 2015 Channel MOR Project: Final Report This publication has been created as part of the Channel MOR project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Interreg IVa France (Channel) England programme. © Copyright 2014 Channel MOR. All Rights Reserved Contents Page FOREWORD INTRODUCTION 1. SECTION 1: Current and Future Market Opportunities for SMEs entering the MRE Sector: 1. - 1.1 Executive Summary 4. - 1.2 MRE Market Opportunities: Requirements and recommendations for the sector 6. SECTION 2: Regional Strategies and Scenarios for Growth in the MRE Sector: 6. - 2.1 Introduction 8. - 2.2 Strategy Mapping: General Conclusions 9. - 2.3 Strategy Mapping: Region Specific Conclusions 9. - 2.4 Strategic Horizon Mapping: Introduction 9. - 2.5 Strategic Horizon Mapping: General Results 11. - 2.6 Strategic Horizon Mapping: Regional Specific results 11. - 2.7 Regional Scenarios and Recommendations: Introduction 12. - 2.8 Regional Scenarios and Recommendations: Methodology 12. - 2.9 Regional Scenarios and Recommendations: Results 13. - 2.10 Regional Strategies and Scenarios for Growth: Recommendations and Discussion 15. - 2.11 The following collaborative initiatives should be considered 16. SECTION 3: An Evaluation of Logistical Needs of SMEs wishing to enter the MRE Industry: 16. - 3.1 Summary 17. - 3.2 Conclusions & recommendations 18. SECTION 4: Training and Skills for the Marine Renewable Energy Sector – Gaps and Opportunities: 18. - 4.1 Summary 20. - 4.2 Skills in the MRE Lifecycle: Conclusion and recommendations 22. SECTION 5: Regulatory Frameworks in the Marine Renewable Energy Industry: 22. - 5.1 Introduction 23. - 5.2 Summary of Policy and Funding Frameworks influencing the Channel Region 24. - 5.3 Regulatory Frameworks Recommendations APPENDIX Foreword Project Partners: Channel MOR – A common territory for fast- tracking MRE Projects Channel MOR (Marine Offshore Renewables) is a cluster set up to ensure the economic growth of marine renewable energy and to support businesses, with emphasis on SMEs, in engaging with this sector. This one year project, running from January 2014 to January 2015, has been delivered by 12 French and English partners and 100% financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF Interreg IVa France-Channel-England Programme) For businesses wishing to grow in the UK and French marine renewable energy markets of wind, wave and tide; Channel MOR provides market intelligence to help assess the industry’s attractiveness, identify supply chain gaps, find collaborators and highlight business opportunities. The conference will see the launch of a web portal which will give businesses access to comprehensive data sets on the Channel area’s marine renewables sector (courses, installations and businesses involved in the MRE value chain). [www.channelMORenergy.eu] Businesses will also find on the platform a range of decision support tools for entering the sector. These include: skills analysis within the MRE lifecycle, analysis of the regulatory environment, an update on the present state of the MRE marketplace, a map of MRE opportunities in the Channel Area, a map of the regions best suited to specific energy types, and a self- assessment guide for logistics performance of SMEs. In addition, Channel MOR has produced a video [www.youtube.com/ watch?v=k7_fe7kINKY] featuring the four main development stages for MRE initiatives: project design, manufacturing and assembly, installation and grid connections, operation and maintenance. The Channel MOR partners • Bretagne Développement Innovation (coordinator) • Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Dieppe • Cornwall Marine Network • Maison de l’emploi et de la formation professionnelle du pays de Brest • Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique • Région Haute Normandie • Southampton City Council • Technopôle Brest Iroise • Technopole Cherbourg Normandie • Université du Havre • University of Chichester • University of Portsmouth Introduction Introduction In a time of economic recovery, the global energy sector is of increasing importance, acting as a significant driver for growth, a key opportunity for reducing carbon emissions and as a mitigation for climate change (DECC, 2013). The UK and France, alongside other EU member states and international neighbours, have committed to facilitating a move to low carbon energy, lower carbon emissions, a reduced dependence on fossil fuels and an increased role of renewable energy technologies (IPCC, 2007; Bergmann et al., 2006; Gill, 2005). Marine energy sources (offshore wind, wave and tidal energy) are under-utilised (Inger, et al., 2009), and have a significant role to play in ensuring these obligations are met. Indeed, the importance of marine renewable energy (MRE) as a developing maritime industry was acknowledged in the European Blue Growth strategy (Henley, 2013). The Channel region is in an ideal position to promote itself as an area of excellence in the MRE sector. For example, the UK and France are currently ranked first and second globally in terms of their potential for tidal energy generation (Bailey et al., 2012). Within the Channel region, there are currently a number of proposed MRE fixed wind installations, including the Rampion wind farm, Navitus Bay, and the AREVA 8 installation, there are also a number of operational installations including London Array and Kentish Flats. There are also important wave and floating wind test sites in Cornwall for the development of emerging wave and floating wind technologies. English and French MRE markets are at different stages of development; however, as MRE in France continues to develop, the potential for an effective and sustainable Channel wide supply chain, supporting local content across the Channel region will continue to increase. This research has been conducted as part of an INTERREG IVA Capitalisation project: Channel MOR. The project brings together eleven partners (including universities, local authorities, a marine network and MRE cluster and innovation centres – see back page of this report for details of partners) from across the Channel region, capitalising on the work conducted through existing INTERREG projects. As part of its research, Channel MOR aims to evaluate the current status of the MRE market, identifying future market opportunities for businesses within the Channel region and highlighting growth options for the Channel’s MRE sector. Executive Summaries and recommendations of all reports. Please note that this report contains only the executive summaries, key points and recommendations of each of the reports in the Channel MOR Series posted on the Channel MOR website. Channel MOR | SECTION 1: Image courtesy of Falmouth Divers: www.falmouthdivers.com Current and Future Market Opportunities for SMEs entering the MRE Sector: A summary of the key elements and recommendations of the Channel MOR report on ‘Current and Future Market Opportunities for SMEs entering the MRE Sector’ Eds: E. McKinley and M. Feast, University of Chichester. December 2014. This report was a culmination of the work produced by the project partners and their local contacts in workpackage 3.2 of the Channel MOR Project. A copy of the full report can be obtained from the www.channelMORenergy.eu website. Channel MOR project supports a to create an MRE community 1.1 Executive better understanding of the value across the Channel region, with Summary of the sector on both a national particular emphasis on supporting and European level, and aims to SMEs engaging with the sector. The Channel region, spanning encourage a policy landscape Initially this has been achieved from Norfolk to Cornwall in that supports the development through the partnership of the England and Nord Pas de Calais of the sector, both in terms of Channel MOR consortium and to Brittany in France, has the marine spatial planning, land- its associated clusters of SMEs potential to further develop based infrastructure, support for already in, or with potential to its MRE activity, and highlight local SME involvement and R&D enter, the MRE market. its capacity as a leader in investment; thus strengthening MRE technology and service the viability and sustainability This component of the project innovation. Further to this, the of the sector. In addition, the research aimed to meet the Channel MOR project aims following objectives: Channel MOR | Page: 1 Current and Future Market Opportunities for SMEs entering the MRE Sector: • To analyse current and future requirements in including offshore wind future MRE markets, relation to innovation, new (OSW), wave and tidal understanding barriers for processes, diversification, energy technologies entry and skills 2. A database providing an • To identify the current This research takes a multi- overview of current and activities and opportunities phase approach to evaluation of future potential business for international the current MRE activity within activity and capacity for collaborations the Channel region, including engagement with the MRE planned and projected projects. sector1 • To map the current MRE Two comprehensive databases market and identify were compiled: Analysis of these databases opportunities for SMEs highlighted the opportunities for 1. A detailed database of all Channel businesses on a more • To identify the current and global MRE installations, global scale, and also identified 1 These databases have been integrated into the Channel MOR web portal a free