UK - One more step on the ‘Path to Power’

An announcement by the Scottish Executive of £13 million worth of grant funding for nine projects in Scottish waters is welcome news for the UK marine renewables industry.

This announcement, the first round of the Scottish Executive Marine Energy Fund, builds on the Department of Trade and Industry’s R&D grants and Marine Renewables Deployment Fund and the Scottish Marine Supplier Obligation, which in combination place the UK firmly at the forefront of marine renewables development.

However, in order to retain and extend this global leadership, UK Government must now step up to the plate and deliver a UK-wide overarching strategy which includes a long-term market for marine renewables, as called for by BWEA in their June 2006 publication ‘Path to Power’.

As BWEA CEO Maria McCaffery commented:

“These funds are an excellent expression of intent by Scotland to become the world leaders in marine renewables. Nevertheless, bearing in mind this is a potentially multi billion pound industry, UK governments at all levels must recognise that only by working together and providing the right level of support in order for marine to compete in the market will this potential be realised."


The issues surrounding the further development of the UK marine renewables industry will be the subject of much discussion in a little over three weeks time at BWEA’s 4th annual conference, Marine 07. To be held on 15th March at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London, the largest dedicated event for the sector in the world to date will attract over 300 of the world’s leading figures, including UK Government ministers, governmental representatives from the US, Canada and Scotland, and European players including Spain and Portugal.


Limited places are available to accredited members of the press:contact Alison Hill, Head of Communications on 020 7689 1966 or alison@bwea.com