Member Article

Renewables Conference Highlights Power of the North East

A major conference is being held on Tyneside today which will highlight the role that wave and tidal energy could play in UK electricity supply.

The prestigious third annual British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) Wave and Tidal Energy conference at the Sage Gateshead brings 250 delegates from the wave and tidal energy community from around the world. Ahead of the conference, NaREC (the New and Renewable Energy Centre) in Blyth had the opportunity to showcase its testing facilities to a party of 60 US, South African, European and UK scientists, businesspeople and journalists, highlighting the North East’s strengths in providing new and renewable energy to meet growing UK demand.

The delegation – which included Uday Mathur, vice president of investment bank Blue Beacon Capital and representative of the City of San Francisco Department of the Environment – visited NaREC’s three, large dry docks used in wave and tidal flow tests, its offshore wind turbine blade testing facility – the world’s largest - and its Clothier Laboratory which carries out high voltage testing.

Today’s conference comes at a time when the Government embarks on an energy review to help shape the future of power provision in the UK – giving the North East the opportunity to position itself as leaders in the field of marine renewables. Jamie Grimwade, NaREC Marine Renewables Specialist, said: “NaREC is delighted to see 250 representatives from the wave and tidal energy community congregating at The Sage Gateshead under the banner of the BWEA’s annual marine energy conference. “The decision to hold the event in the North East demonstrates the importance of our region’s asset base to this emerging industrial sector. “Markets for new and renewable energy are growing rapidly as governments pursue objectives of reducing environmental emissions and achieving security of energy supply.

“This growth creates demand for new technologies, equipment and services to enable the generation and distribution of this energy. “The North East is very well placed to address opportunities arising from this growth, due to its existing industries, research and development facilities and universities. NaREC will build on and exploit the region’s new and renewable energy assets and knowledge base.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .