Commission for Environment, Climate change and
Energy
Brussels, 5 May 2014
Study visit report on "Low carbon, energy and environment - Sustainable solutions for
environmental and resource management and innovative research"
Swansea University (United Kingdom) 29 April 2014
At the initiative of Mrs Linda Gillham (UK/EA), this study visit was organised in cooperation
between the CoR and Swansea University. 12 members participated, among them 4 rapporteurs on
energy and environmental issues and 1 rapporteur on a technology innovation related subject. The
overall aim of this study visit was to look closely at links between the promotion of renewable energy,
environmental protection, innovative technologies and post-industrial regeneration in a cross-sectorial
perspective.
Members were provided an overview of the regional best practice project SEACAMS, cofounded by
the ERDF, which is a strategic development to integrate research and business opportunities around
the coast of Wales. The objective pursued by this project is to expand the coastal and marine business
sectors at a time when there are unprecedented environmental and socio-economic challenges related
to climate change and enormous opportunities for commercial and research activities.
From the point of view of energy, members looked in detail at the work of the MacroBioCrude team
of the project which is working towards an integrated supply and processing pipeline for the
sustainable manufacture of liquid hydrocarbon fuels from seaweed (or macroalgae). The
Macrobiocrude team have been exploring methods of seaweed gasification and upgrading to diesel
and aviation kerosene employing a novel biomass preservation technology. In parallel, an innovation
platform for this novel bio-fuel supply chain has been envisaged, which would assess the overall
process footprint, supply chain relationships and public/end-user perceptions.
Members also had a discussion with the collaborators of the 'Low Carbon Research Institute – Marine'
which assists in the assessment, design and optimisation of emerging energy recovery technologies to
nurture entrepreneurship and enterprise. A key factor within their support structure is to specify
candidate locations in and around the Welsh coast to create employment within the Welsh marine
sector. A physical and computational modelling based project has been developed to maximise the
marine renewable energy that can be extracted by current technologies whilst minimising the
environmental impact of their deployment. It has been stressed during the discussion of the research
and team and the CoR members that it is necessary to overcome barriers to marine renewable energy
and bridge the gap of public awareness of adequate information and knowledge of the marine energy
resource itself; and the impact that a marine energy technology turbine device or structure will have
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-2on the natural marine environment The lack of knowledge of the impact of any new technology will
hinder planning permission and consent from authorities to proceed. The impact a marine energy
project has on the marine and aquatic environment may be far reaching and indirect, and hence this
project looks at a full range of aspects in the analysis; from cloud to coast; water quality to flood risk,
ground water to sedimentation.
These project activities provided a best practice example which allowed members to discuss in more
practical detail the possibilities for better EU support in terms of funding and governance solutions
with a view to encouraging investment in innovative renewable energy projects. It was generally felt
that best practice from across the EU was crucial to understand how to ensure that the EU funding,
private investment and cross-border cooperation are purposefully combined to bring significant
environmental, societal and economic benefits to a region.
Moreover, a tour of the aquatic research facilities took place, where the Swansea University's blue
biotechnology research is helping to address global food and fuel security issues. The programme
continued with a visit to a flagship wetland centre on the outskirts of Swansea; a triumph of postindustrial regeneration and nationally important ecological site. At the margins of the various
arrangements, discussions took place between the Welsh MEP Mr Vaughan and members and
accompanying staff. Mr Vaughan's involvement in CoR related issues at the EP has been noted and
further reciprocal exchange envisaged, notably in relation to the CoR session of the Energy Week in
June.
Members commended the innovative success of the projects presented by the host and noted
outstanding issues for their future political work in the field of energy and the environment, notably in
relation to commercial viability of pilot project replication for regional growth and jobs in the
currently sluggish economic atmosphere across the EU.
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