Context: Powering Up Britain 

Earlier this year, the UK government published its Powering Up Britain paper, setting out how the government will enhance the country’s energy security, seize the economic opportunities of the transition and deliver on its net zero commitments. Energy generation at scale is crucial in Powering Up Britain, reaching net zero and consolidating the UK’s position as a global leader in green energy. 

The prospectus: How the Great South West is powering up a greener Britain 

The Great South West is the ‘powerhouse’ brand to promote the LEP areas of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Heart of the South West and Dorset. It aims to deliver £45bn of economic benefit and become the leading region for the green and blue economy.

The Great South West has recognised and identified energy as a top priority, focusing on building a future that is smart, connected and green to become the cleanest economy in England and the first to be net carbon zero. The Clean Energy Powerhouse Prospectus has been compiled by Regen and published by the Great South West, showcasing the region’s energy generation opportunities. The prospectus also sets out how the Great South West intends to work with government to unlock these opportunities and play a leading role in Powering Up Britain.

Building on the legacy of Hinkley Point C, which will be the UK’s largest low-carbon power station, the Great South West has proven itself to be the place to design, demonstrate and deploy innovative renewable technologies. They are now focusing on the technologies of the future:

1. Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea
2. Nuclear power including Hinkley Point C
3. Geothermal heat and power solutions
4. Hydrogen and green fuel production
5. Diverse low carbon solutions including wave and tidal, onshore wind and solar, utility-scale heat and interconnectors.

Karl Tucket, Chair of the Great South West said:

“We are stronger than the sum of our parts, and by working together, the Great South West has unprecedented potential to contribute to the region’s economic performance and net zero targets to ensure greater prosperity for all.”

Unlocking the opportunity: key asks from the Great South West

The Great South West has the energy generation opportunities, highly-skilled workforce and deep-rooted expertise to play a leading role in Powering Up Britain. To unlock these opportunities, the Great South West is asking for government action in three key areas:

1. Reformed planning and licensing

Clearer policy landscape, with a greater focus on net zero, to help remove barriers for energy projects and infrastructure.

2. Unlocking investment

Public and private investment to support early-stage innovation through to large-scale generation.

3. Electricity grids for net zero

Investment in our electricity grid to make it ready for net zero, and reform to reduce connection timescales.

You can read the full prospectus here

For further information on the project, please contact Grace Millman.

The Hayle Coastal Communities Team project was established by the Hayle Harbour Advisory Committee in 2015 and has been funded by a DCLG Coastal Community grant. The HCCT team is made up of individuals and stakeholders who have a direct interest to support the future sustainable development of Hayle Harbour.

Hayle Harbour Works And Business Case – phase 1 report

This reports documents to outcome and findings of phase 1 of the HCCT project. This first phase has focused on the issues related to harbour navigation and access, with the aim to identify practical and acceptable solutions to restore and maintain water depth and safe navigation within the harbour and its channels, and to develop a business case to support investment.

Published: January 2016

Examples of these projects include:

Plymouth South Yard Marine Industry Demand study

Following the signing over of part of Devonport Dock yard to Plymouth City Council, we carried out a market research study to identify areas of high growth and innovation in the marine industry and specific opportunities to support investment and jobs in the south west of England through the development of a “Marine Industries’ Production Campus” at Plymouth South Yard.

Read the report here.

Bristol Port Dry Dock study

In 2014, we carried out an evaluation of potential market opportunities for Bristol Port, principally focused on the opportunities surrounding the Atlantic Array project and the assembly and manufacturing of tidal turbines.

North Devon

We have undertaken a series of studies in North Devon examining potential opportunities surrounding the Atlantic Array project, with a view to using the ports as operations and maintenance facilities.

Hayle Harbour Works

This project, funded by the Hayle Coastal Communities Team, focussed on identifying practical and acceptable solutions for restoring and maintaining water depth and safe navigation within the harbour and its channels, and to develop a business case to support investment.

Read the report here. 

Led by: Johnny Gowdy

Contact: jgowdy@regen.co.uk

Project duration: Summer 2016

During the feasibility phase, Regen was responsible for carrying out research to better understand the ownership structures and financial models within the UK offshore wind sector, to identify whether there was a strong case to encourage greater UK ownership of offshore wind and to engage with developers and potential financial partners.

Following the completion of this phase, a second stage of work is due to start in winter 2016, further investigating financial methods that could be used to meet 10:10’s project aim.

Led by: Kerry Hayes and Cheryl Hiles

Contact: khayes@regen.co.uk

Project duration: (2011 – ongoing)

Although the forum started out with a south west focus, it has evolved over the past ten events, reaching an international audience. Since the first event, a combined total of over 500 delegates have attended from 11 different countries, with attendees from all parts of the supply chain coming together to network, do business and learn more about the burgeoning tidal energy sector. In between events, attendees are encouraged to continue networking through the Linkedin group.

Presentations from past events can be seen here.

The next forum will take place in the spring of 2017.

Led by: Johnny Gowdy

Contact: jgowdy@regen.co.uk

Examples of our work include:

• Financial modelling commissioned to better understand the financial and commercial viability of deploying wave energy technology at both technology demonstration and first array scale. The objective of the study was to analyse, from the perspective of a project developer, the key financial drivers and sensitivities which will ultimately determine the viability of wave energy projects and the location/scale of the projects that could be developed.

• A project pre-feasibility study for a technology developer, with the aim of finding a site   within the study area that could form the basis of a viable project and would then be taken forward to the next stage.  The next stage was planned to include more detailed costing and a full site survey assessing the resource and physical constraints of a tidal energy site in the south west.

• Assessment of the boundary of a tidal energy site, carried out using GIS to assess the resource and other physical constraints, including water depth and bathymetry. This assessment was then considered alongside other constraints such as marine leisure and environmental designation.  Finally, financial modelling was carried out to evaluate the attractiveness of the site to potential commercial developers.

Led by: Johnny Gowdy

Contact: jgowdy@regen.co.uk