Anglesey, North Wales — The Morlais tidal energy project has announced a partnership with the Crown Estate to provide access to valuable environmental survey data collected off the coast of Anglesey. The data, gathered during the first phase of the Morlais-led Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP), will be made publicly available through the Marine Data Exchange (MDE) platform.
The MCRP data includes over 40 terabytes of information sourced from various research projects and monitoring activities. This data, covering areas such as bird and marine mammal monitoring, aims to support the development of sustainable tidal and renewable energy by providing essential insights into marine environments.
Helen Roberts, project manager of MCRP, emphasized the importance of the data: “This is a game-changer for tidal energy, and we are delighted to play such a key role. Access to well-organised data is essential for project developers and researchers. With the Marine Data Exchange, reliable data and information will be available which will increase understanding of marine environments and improve planning and development processes. Our hope is that this will help drive the sector's growth while keeping sustainability at the forefront.
The MDE platform, developed by the Crown Estate in 2013, plays a key role in facilitating the sustainable development of the UK's seabed resources while protecting marine ecosystems. By hosting the MCRP data on this platform, the partners aim to foster collaboration and innovation within the marine energy sector, both in the UK and globally.
Mike Dobson, new energies portfolio manager at the Crown Estate, noted: “The UK has significant tidal stream energy resources and harnessing the predictable nature of the tides could help support our net-zero targets. Data and evidence enable us to better understand how we can find the balance between marine renewable energy development and protecting and restoring our natural environment, so it's fantastic to see so much now hosted on the MDE.
The Morlais tidal energy project, which is part of the energy portfolio of Menter Mon, a social enterprise based in Anglesey, has consistently prioritized the protection of marine wildlife and local habitats. The data collected through MCRP will also serve as a case study in an upcoming Crown Estate report that reviews the current state of tidal stream marine monitoring.
By making this data publicly available, the collaboration seeks to drive the growth of the tidal energy sector while advancing environmental sustainability.
