Abstract
This report has been prepared by RPS on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (the WAG) as part of the development of the Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework (MRESF). The MRESF project has been undertaken in three stages, with this report presenting a summary of the findings of the final part of Stage 3. The main aim of the MRESF project has been to investigate the potential marine renewable energy resource of Welsh Territorial Waters (TWs), and to consider potential scenarios for the sustainable development of that resource.
The current report provides a descriptive text to the final outputs of the MRESF, which are essentially a series of GIS maps that compare areas of potential wave and tidal stream resource with the level of existing development constraint. This report has been preceded by a number of documents, which laid the foundations for the Framework and provide the background for the overall assessment. The accompanying reports are summarised below:
- Stage 1: Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework for Wales (2008)
- Stage 2:
- Collision Risk of Fish with Wave and Tidal Devices (2010)
- The Potential for Interaction between Wave and Tidal Stream with Military Interests in Welsh Waters (2010)
- Positive effects of wave and tidal energy devices. Literature review and desk study (2010)
- Assessment of Risk to Marine Mammals from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 1 - Desktop Review of Collision Risk to Marine Mammals from Underwater Devices in Welsh Waters (2011)
- Assessment of Risk to Marine Mammals from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 2 - Studies of Marine Mammals in Welsh High Tide Waters (2011)
- Assessment of Risk to Diving Birds from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 1 - Desktop Review of Birds in Welsh Waters and Preliminary Risk Assessment (2011)
- Assessment of Risk to Diving Birds from Underwater Marine Renewable Devices in Welsh Waters: Phase 2 - Field Methodologies and Site Assessments (2011)
- Stage 3:
- Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework for Wales: Stakeholder Participation Process (2010)
- Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework for Wales: Stakeholder Participation Feedback (2010)
- Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework: Review of the Policy Context for Sustainable Marine Renewable Development (2011)
- Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework: Technical Addendum (2011)