Partrac hooks META resource measurement contract

 
Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum (PCF) has hired Scottish-based marine survey specialist Partrac for wave buoy deployment and associated data processing in support of resource measurement at Marine Energy Test Area (META) in the southwest of Wales.

The resource measurement at META will provide key information for the development, use and operation of two wave sites located in the Milford Haven Waterway, according to the requirements outlined in a tender published by PCF, which manages and delivers marine related projects in Pembrokeshire area.

The successful bidder, Partrac, will be expected to provide access to live data, collated raw data and complete resource profile reports for a number of uses including device design and engineering, site review and location selection and marketing and promotion of the site, the tender states.

The £1.9 million META project, supported by EU and Welsh government funds, along with the Coastal Communities Fund and the Swansea Bay City Deal, aims to provide early stage device developers with an easy access testing facility to de-risk future deployments and drive down the cost of energy.

The project will see the creation of a series of pre-consented, non-grid connected areas suitable for a range of component, sub-assembly and marine energy device tests.

While some areas within the project will need to go through a formal consenting process – including full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), being managed by Oxfordshire-based consultancy RPS, as well as marine license application to Natural Resources Wales – certain areas could be made available for some test activities this year, META site managers said earlier.