The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd (www.emec.org.uk) and Wave Hub Ltd (www.wavehub.co.uk) have signed an agreement with Marine Energy Wales to provide strategic advice to develop the Marine Energy Test Area (META) project, which is under way in Pembrokeshire.

Between them, the teams behind the test centres in Orkney and Cornwall have over 20 years’ experience of developing and managing sites, as well as supporting facilities and developers around the world.

Their knowledge of leasing, licensing, operations and commercial activities will be invaluable to the Marine Energy Wales team, as they seek to establish a test area in the Milford Haven Waterway.

META will see the creation of a series of sites suitable for testing a range of components, sub-assemblies and marine-energy devices.

The £1.9 million project — supported by EU and Welsh Government funds, along with the Coastal Communities Fund and the Swansea Bay City Deal — aims to provide an easy-access testing facility for early-stage device developers.

Operations manager Joseph Kidd said: “This agreement demonstrates that the marine-energy sector is a catalyst for positive cross-border collaboration around the UK.

“By working together and sharing knowledge, we hope to create a project that will provide added value to the UK’s established test centre network.

“We are delighted to have EMEC and Wave Hub Ltd on board as strategic advisors; we will benefit hugely from their wealth of experience.”