Marine Energy Wales
Programme: Marine Energy Test Area (META)
Report Date: 2019-2022
Programme Value: £1.03m
Marine energy is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries, with the power to control our coastal communities and deliver sustainable long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.
This summary focuses on the final evaluation in 2022, highlighting the methodology , key findings and added value.
1. Evaluation Methodology Employed:
Review of progress made against the logic model and ERDF Business Plan, dated 2017, up until 2022
Updated review of the operations of eight consented test sites in the Milford Haven Waterway
Internal and external stakeholder interviews to identify progress made, market need, areas of new development and the opportunity to work outside the Region
E-survey of META beneficiaries on META’s activities (45% response rate)
Review META’s regional support and networks, including the Crown Estate, Local Authorities, ORE and Swansea Bay City Region
The Consultants used an ERDF-compliant evaluation methodology, broken down into nine discrete Work Packages. This included a performance review against ERDF KPIs, interviews with internal and external stakeholders, a beneficiary e-survey, overall impact analysis, and drafting and delivery of the final evaluation report.
The methodology identified that the market/opportunity was still progressing but had been impacted due to Covid-19. META still played an increasingly crucial part in the Pembrokeshire Coastal Marine Energy environment and is moving to a position where it is supporting marine energy designers/developers through an increasing active number of qualified test sites, the research community, including local universities and MEECE, and various supply chains within the Region.
The methodology also sought to identify ways in which the Initiative could progress beyond ERDF funding, identify new regional stakeholders and identify the key strengths of the META operation.
2. Added Value Delivered by the Consultants:
The Consultants spoke to other regional stakeholders, such as the ORE Catapult, to identify what is likely to happen in the industry and significant developments elsewhere that will impact on the future of META, not least floating wind, which is now firmly on META’s agenda.
The Consultants had discussions with META Management about future funding in terms of UK Shared Prosperity Fund and made introductions to senior staff at Cardiff University and Swansea University, who are putting in a UK Shared Prosperity Fund bid for the whole of South Wales to encourage the adoption of clean technology and decarbonise the Region.