Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) has won a coveted South West Green Energy Award for the groundbreaking FabTest marine energy test site in Falmouth Bay.
The pioneering project scooped the Best Business Innovation category in the Regen South West Green Energy Awards 2012, which were presented at a gala dinner in Bath last night. [Nov 20]
FabTest gives marine energy developers the chance to test devices in a pre-licensed and consented area of near shore environment that is easily accessible.
Regen SW’s Green Energy Awards celebrate renewable energy achievements in the South West of the UK, and aim to highlight examples of innovation and drive forward the sustainability agenda in the region.
An independent panel of judges described the project as “an important step forward for the South West marine renewables sector,” while Regen SW chief executive Merlin Hyman described all the finalists as “exemplars in their field” .
Falmouth Harbour Master Captain Mark Sansom said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this coveted award and we hope it will further promote Falmouth’s potential as a centre for the development of marine energy.
“FabTest is already playing an important role as part of the South West Marine Energy Park as it allows essential technology testing to be carried out in sheltered waters, close to Falmouth’s excellent port facilities.”
The project originated as a partnership between FHC, Wave Hub, the University of Exeter, A&P Group, Cornwall Marine Network and Mojo Maritime, the FabTest site is centred about two miles south of St Anthony Head.
In April 2012, FabTest welcomed the first wave device to be installed for testing. Fred Olsen’s BOLT “Lifesaver” wave energy converter is currently being tested at the site, before potentially being deployed at the grid connected Wave Hub site, off the Cornish Coast near Hayle.
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Press release, November 22, 2012; Image: dca-pr