Combined Policy Application Report - MERIFIC

Abstract

This report is the final report within work package 4 of MERiFIC. It focuses on policy aspects specific to marine renewable energy within far-peripheral and coastal regions. Within this work, marine renewable energy includes wind (both fixed and floating), wave and tidal stream technologies however excludes tidal range, ocean thermal and salinity gradient technologies for which there is little to no research currently being conducted within the regions (With the exception of the La Rance tidal dam which has been in operation since 1966). It builds upon the penultimate report, (Vantoch-Wood, 2013) which itself compared the outputs of stakeholder consultations carried out in the two target regions concerning the appropriateness of applied policy and aiming to identify potential additional policy needs. These focussed upon Cornwall and Finistère however, with acknowledgement that the wider regional and national policy landscape inevitably plays an ever-present role within local policy decisions and application, the study included the wider regional implications for the South West UK and for Brittany, and the implications of national policy in France and the United Kingdom. Further, and where applicable for aspects such as environmental regulations, it considered European and other international policy. The goal of this report therefore is to suggest (based upon the findings of the stakeholder consultations) opportunities for potential collaboration between Cornwall and Finistère and between the wider regions, where this collaboration may help to both reduce the costs of commercialisation within the MRE sector and assist in strengthening the regional argument for a MRE industry and deployment within the area.