Abstract
This document has been compiled to facilitate stakeholder participation on the ’Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework’ (MRESF) for Wales; a three stage project currently being undertaken by RPS within Welsh territorial waters on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. The MRESF is aimed at exploring and enabling the potential for renewable energy extraction from Welsh waters, with the intention being to minimise impacts on environmental resources and socio-economic activities, while maximising the potential for sustainable energy production to be gained from Welsh waters. The MRESF project forms part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to promoting economic development of Welsh waters in a truly sustainable manner, and through such, achieving Wales’ ambitions for low carbon energy generation and the significant contribution marine energy can make to meeting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
The MRESF work programme is divided into three stages. Stages 1 and 2 have been undertaken over the past 2 years, with the project outputs from these precursor steps laying the foundation for Stage 3. Stage 3 will now progress through 2010 to develop and deliver the overarching Framework. The focus of this stakeholder participation is the proposed methodology for developing the Framework, with the aim of this document being to support and inform the process.
The Approach to Sustainable Development Report presents the final outputs of the Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework (MRESF). The MRESF will be an essential management tool for the sustainable development of wave and tidal energy in Wales.