Environment minister meets marine energy experts at Penryn Campus

Mr Eustice, the Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment and MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle received an update from the Offshore Renewables Group on its work on wave energy in Falmouth Bay and a £3m research project into the science and technology associated with lobster farming.

Professor Lars Johanning, who leads the research into hydrodynamics and marine operations within the Renewable Energy Group said the minister was very interested in what he saw and heard.

“We presented George Eustace with our general research activities and informed him about our work with the Falmouth Bay Test facility and our involvement with a lobster farming initiative as part of the new Innovate UK/ BBSRC project with the National Lobster Hatchery, CEFAS and other partners.  This was very relevant to him as head of the DEFRA,” said Professor Johanning.

George Eustice said: “It was really good to visit Exeter University’s campus at Penryn to meet the Offshore Renewables Group for an update on the work they are doing in marine energy and aquaculture. The team at Penryn are leading the world in research into mooring technology for wave energy devices and it’s great to see this first-rate research facility in the Camborne & Redruth constituency.”

As part of the Innovate UK and BBSRC consortium project researchers are implementing field studies in the well-being of the lobsters, potential environmental impacts and leads on engineering developments with the aim of boosting sustainable lobster production and employment.

The Falmouth Bay Test site (FaB Test) is a two square kilometre area between three and five kilometres offshore in Falmouth Bay, in which researchers and wave energy device developers are testing wave energy technologies, components, moorings and deployment procedures.