Government Invests in Marine Future

In the last month Government have announced plans to develop UK marine industries. In Scotland, the nation's first Marine Bill was introduced to the Scottish Government, whilst further south a scoping exercise to determine the potential of the English and Welsh coastlines was announced.

Scotland's Marine Bill aims to deliver more opportunities to boost the economy and improve conservation. Calls from environmental groups, the marine industry and coastal communities, for more effective joined up management, were drivers for the bill's development.

The Key measures of the bill are stated as being:

- A new marine planning framework so that increasing use of the seas for energy, fishing, aquaculture, recreation and other purposes is well managed
- The new planning system will create a more stable environment for investment
- New Marine Planning Partnerships will involve local agencies, communities and stakeholders to ensure a strong local voice
- A simpler licensing system will reduce the administrative burden and cut bureaucracy reducing business costs in key growth areas such as renewable energy
- Improved marine nature and historic conservation to safeguard and protect Scotland's unique habitats, wildlife and marine archaeology and wrecks
- Full regulation of seal management giving much improved protection for seals and a new comprehensive licence system

Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Loachhead said the following of the bill, '"We are introducing the framework to help deliver a new future for Scotland's seas. Our Marine Bill aims to maximise economic growth while ensuring future generations can still enjoy this world class environment. Scotland holds a quarter of Europe's total tidal and offshore wind resource and 10 per cent of its potential in wave power. Our seas generate more than £2.2 billion for the Scottish economy. We have huge potential to increase economic growth from our seas but need to do so in a sustainable way. We need to remember that Scotland is also a leading marine tourism destination and any changes should not be at the environment's expense.'

Meanwhile in England Lord Hunt announced plans for a scoping exercise for the potential for marine energy from English and Welsh coastlines: commenting 'The marine energy sector has reached a pivotal stage with more and more devices ready to go into the water. The screening exercise in English and Welsh waters is a significant step forward in our plans to harness the power of our seas and secure a renewable and low carbon energy supply.'

The scheme will improve the understanding of the potential for this energy, allowing for more accurate timescales to be established. Input will come from developers, utilities and other relevant bodies, asking them their preferred locations and estimates of timescales for the development of commercially viable farms.

UK and China Agree a £10 million Low Carbon Innovation Agreement

On 4th May the Carbon Trust signed a groundbreaking agreement with the China Energy Conservation Investment Corporation (CECIC) to develop and deploy low carbon technologies in China. The partnership will assist British companies wanting to export low carbon technologies to the one of the world's fastest growing CleanTech markets, by accelerating low carbon innovation and technology transfer. The joint venture is part of a £10million agreement that will open up new markets for innovative British CleanTech companies and, in the long term, reduce global carbon emissions.

There are two core objectives to the scheme. Firstly to incubate new and emerging low carbon technologies, introducing selected low carbon businesses from the UK to China, and secondly to provide financial investment for UK and Chinese clean technology businesses in China. It is hoped that following their initial joint investment of £10 million further funding will come from third party funding.

The Carbon Trust describe the agreement as an important step towards the UK using low carbon technology to drive economic recovery. UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, commented 'The Chinese market for low carbon and clean technology products and services is substantial and growing at a significant rate. We can see here clear evidence of the vision outlined in the UK Government's Low Carbon Industrial Strategy that advanced green manufacturing presents us with a huge economic opportunity as well as reducing our carbon emissions. This new agreement is an important contribution to building a global low carbon economy, bringing UK and Chinese expertise together to generate real commercial value.'

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The Environmental Transformation Fund

What is it?

The Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) was launched in April last year as an initiative to bring forward the development of new low carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK. The initiative has UK and international elements with total funds adding up to £1.2 billion. During the period of 2008/09 and 2010/11 funds within the UK element of the scheme will total £400 million and international funds will total £800million; focusing on poverty reduction and environmental protection in developing countries.

What are its objectives?

At home the fund will contribute to the UK's climate change and renewable energy goals for 2020. The aim is to accelerate the commercialisation of low carbon energy and energy efficient technologies. The creation of these technologies will not only reduce the carbon intensity of energy production, but also reduce demand.

The focus of the fund is on the demonstration and deployment phases of bringing low carbon technologies to market. This will be achieved through working closely with organisations such as; the Energy Technologies Institute, Technology Strategy Board and the Research Council.

Who can apply?

Funds will be made available to a wide range of businesses types through a series of programmes; investment programmes that have been announced are:

- Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Carbon Abatement Demonstration Programme
- Marine Renewable Deployment Fund
- Low Carbon Building Programmes
- Bio-energy Capital Grants and Bio-energy Infrastructure Schemes
- Offshore Wind Capital Grants Programme
- Carbon Trust's Innovation Programme, including research accelerators, and incubators
- Carbon Trust Funding For New Low Carbon Technology Enterprises; including Partnership for Renewables
- Carbon Trust Investments in Low Carbon Technology Businesses
- Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Loans Scheme for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
- Salix Finance Public Sector Invest-to-save Loan Scheme

How do I apply?

Watch out for updates on the DECC, BERR and Carbon Trust websites as schemes will be announced here as and when funding becomes available.

Further information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/energy/fund/