Marine Energy Test Area (META)

The Marine Energy Test Center Area (META) consists of eight pre-consented (non-grid connected) sites in and around the Milford Haven Waterway, for testing devices, sub-assemblies, and components. The site aims to help developers deploy, de-risk and develop their marine energy technologies. META is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government, and the Coastal Communities Fund. The test site is part of Pembroke Dock Marine, a collaborative project aimed at developing marine energy in Pembrokeshire.

There are five Quayside Sites, which are accessible via existing Pembroke Port infrastructure. 

• Site 1 - Carr Jetty: 9m depth; 71 ha area; mud/sandy mud seabed; maximum tidal currents <1 knot 0.5 m/s.
• Site 2 – Mainstay Quay: 6m depth; 0.87ha area; mud/sandy mud seabed; maximum tidal currents <1 knot 0.5 m/s; limited wave exposure.
• Site 3 – Ferryside: 1m – 6m depth; 59ha area; mud/sandy mud seabed; maximum tidal currents <1 0.5 m/s; very limited wave exposure.
• Site 4 - Quay 1: 8m depth; 2.39ha area; accommodates devices up to 164m length; mud/sandy mud seabed with manmade causeway of rubble and rock; maximum tidal currents <1 0.5m/s; very limited wave exposure.
• Site 5 – Criterion Jetty: 18m depth; 0.48ha area; mud/sandy seabed; maximum tidal current <1 m/s; higher wave exposure.

There are three open water test sites, which are within or adjacent to the Milford Haven waterway and provide real-sea testing. 

• Site 6 – Warrior Way: Supports scaled and micro tidal devices (2m – 20m depth; 9.3ha area; mixed sediment seabed; tidal stream resource - 1.5 m/s.
• Site 7 – Dale Roads: Supports scaled and full-scale wave energy converter (WEC) devices (6m – 11m depth; 19.56ha area; mixed sediment seabed with rock and reef; wave resource - 0.6m Hs (annual mean), 9-second peak period (annual mean), 5.68 Hmax.
• Site 8 – East Pickard Bay: Supports scaled and full-scale wave energy converter devices (10m – 29m depth; 123ha area; predominantly sand seabed with small areas of hard substrate; wave resource – 1.52 Hs (annual mean), 9-second peak period (annual mean), 13.6 Hmax).