The home of renewable energy innovation
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, located at the UK’s most southerly tip, have undergone considerable transformation in recent years. Known as the UK’s green peninsula, Cornwall is fast becoming the hub for the UK’s renewable energy sector. Significant investment in its business infrastructure has meant this rural location is an attractive business location for US companies
CORNWALL INVESTMENT
The period 2000-2006 saw a total of £900 million of European and other public and private-sector funding being invested into the county’s infrastructure, the creation of the Combined Universities in Cornwall – a unique higher education model – implementation of broadband as well as the development of the Cornwall commercial airport (Newquay Cornwall Airport).
The current European economic regeneration programme will see a further E£712 million being pumped into Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from 2007 through 2013. This European funding, matched with local, regional and national resources, aims to build a stronger, more diverse economy by supporting businesses, creating employment and developing new skills.
NEXT GENERATION ACCESS IN CORNWALL
One of the most significant investments will be in next generation broadband. Cornwall is set to become one of the first locations in the UK to benefit from next-generation broadband services providing faster, more reliable and affordable connections across the whole of Cornwall. The roll out will start in late 2010, providing the platform for innovation, improved communications and new investment opportunities. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will benefit from a future-proofed level of connectivity that will ensure they can compete with major cities across the globe.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
It’s the topic everyone is talking about: as a result this market segment is seeing renewed interest at unprecedented levels, but how do renewable energy investors establish which location provides them the best opportunity for their company to thrive?
Having secured its position as the green peninsula of the UK, not only due to the county’s pioneering history – the UK’s first wind farm was constructed at Delabole (North Cornwall) in 1991, and the Camborne School of Mines, part of the Combined Universities, pioneered geothermal energy research through leading the £40 million Hot Dry Rocks project in the 1980s – a range of more recent projects in Cornwall is underway. For example, Cornwall is home to the internationally renowned Eden Project which, with partner EGS Energy Ltd, is racing to build the UK’s first hot-dry rock geothermal power plant, which aims to be operational in 2012.
Work is underway on the world’s largest test site for marine renewable devices, 10 miles off the coast of Cornwall near Hayle. Called Wave Hub, the £42 million project (£20 million from the European Regional Development Funding Convergence Pro-gramme), has been developed by the South West Regional Development Agency and will be the UK’s first offshore facility to demonstrate arrays of wave energy generation devices.
With an initial capacity of 20MW, Wave Hub will allow device developers to test their technology on a scale not seen anywhere before and has been designed to cater for up to 50MW in the future. Wave Hub is expected to be the catalyst for the creation of a new marine energy industry in Cornwall.
The role of Cornwall in developing marine renewables has also been recognised by the UK government, which designated South West England the country’s first Low Carbon Economic Area in recognition of its marine energy expertise. This included £20 million of additional funding, half of which is going to Wave Hub, with the remainder to be spent on projects that support the development of a marine energy industry in the Cornwall region.
Other significant Cornwall investments include the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine and Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE). This £15 million institute, launched in 2007, consists of 15 world-class academic staff, 60 researchers and a dedicated technology transfer team that works with businesses. Substantial investment is being made in new equipment to support research into the environmental impact and benefits of marine renewable energy.
A new sector needs new skills. Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall has seen increasing numbers of graduates signing up for the UK’s first undergraduate programme in Renewable Energy (accredited by the Energy Institute) and is also one of the world’s foremost centres of research and teaching into the interface between earth science and sustainable development from an industry perspective.
For any business operating in the renewables sector, Cornwall’s track record, natural environment, investment programme and access to funding, skills and expertise makes Cornwall the ideal location.
For more information about Cornwall, visit:
Website: www.investincornwall.com
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