UK Government
We have worked closely with the UK Government since our
inception to ensure that UK policies are closely aligned to the
needs of the growing marine energy sector. Many policy areas
relating to marine energy, such as UK energy policy, energy market
regulation, grid infrastructure, tax policy and industry funding
are regulated on a UK-wide basis.
The UK Government's Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) is responsible for all aspects of UK energy policy and for
tackling global climate change on behalf of the UK. DECC was
created in October 2008, to bring responsibility for these two
policy areas under one department. We work closely with MPs,
ministers and government officials at DECC to ensure good
communications between industry and government and to ensure a
clear and coordinated approach to marine energy policy development
across the UK.
We also work closely with the Department of Business Innovation
and Skills and the UK's Scotland Office.
In addition, our Head of Commercial Development Dr Sian George
sits on the steering group of the UK Government Marine Action Plan
which produced its road map for the development of marine energy in
2010.
Our CEO Martin McAdam is also a member of the UK Marine Energy
Programme Board, set up by DECC with the purpose of accelerating
marine energy development in the UK.
We have been awarded significant funding from the UK Government,
including £5 million in 2010 from the MRPF fund (Marine Renewables
Proving Fund) to support the development of our Oyster 800
wave energy device. The MRPF is a £22 million initiative,
which is funded by DECC and managed by the Carbon Trust. The fund
aims to accelerate the development of the leading and most
promising marine energy devices towards the point where they can,
ultimately, be deployed on a commercial scale.
As we face oil prices beyond $100 a barrel and the clearest evidence yet of the physical dangers to the UK of manmade climate change, innovations such as the Oyster are the sure-fire insurance policy with a big economic dividend. Marine energy has the potential to sustain growth, quality employment and skills in the UK’s wider, fast-developing low carbon economy.
Chris Huhne, Secretary of State
Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK Government