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Last chance to apply for Wave Hub Manager position
16 September 2009
There are just a couple of days to go before Friday's (September
18) noon deadline, for one of the most exciting jobs in the
renewable energy industry - general manager of the pioneering Wave
Hub project.
With a high number of applications already received the South
West RDA (Regional Development Agency), which is developing Wave
Hub off the north coast of Cornwall, is making its final call for
individuals with significant marine or electricity engineering
experience to apply for the new post via the dedicated website
www.wavehubjobs.co.uk.
Wave Hub is a cornerstone of the RDA's strategy to develop a
world class marine energy industry in the South West. It will
comprise a giant grid-connected socket on the seabed for wave
energy devices to be tested on a scale not seen before.
The £42 million project is fully funded, has planning approval
and has already placed its first equipment orders. It will be built
next summer.
Nick Harrington, head of marine energy at the South West RDA,
said: "We've had a fantastic response from all over the world and
want to attract an exceptional person for this exceptional project,
which is why we are reminding people to get their applications in
before it's too late.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a pioneering renewable
energy project while living and working in one of the most
beautiful parts of the UK."
The general manager will be responsible for leading all aspects
of the project including the safe and efficient operation of Wave
Hub and will have an input into decisions about the structure of
the Wave Hub operations team and recruit the staff.
The ideal candidate will have strong marine or electricity
engineering experience and will combine technical expertise with
general management and communications skills. Above all they will
have the appetite to blaze a trail in a fledgling industry and find
ways of doing things that have never been done before.
Wave Hub is receiving investment from the European Regional
Development Fund Convergence Programme, matched with funding from
the South West RDA and the UK government.
The South West was designated the UK's first Low Carbon Economic
Area because of its strength in marine energy in July, attracting a
further £10 million of UK government investment for projects that
will support the industry.
With government, RDA and European funding, the total investment
in the South West's marine energy programme in the next two years
is expected to top £100 million, putting the region at the
forefront of this emerging global industry.
Ends
For more information contact Jason Clark, on 01208-77900 or via
email jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk
Notes to Editors
1. Images: an artist's impression of Wave Hub can be downloaded
at www.flickr.com/photos/southwestengland.
Scroll down the right hand side of the screen and click on the
'Wave Hub' set.
2. The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is
helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a
course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives
which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund; coordinating the
response to large companies in difficulty; preparing for economic
recovery.
3. Wave Hub is a major marine renewables infrastructure project
that will create an electrical 'socket' on the seabed in some 50
metres of water around 10 miles off the coast of Cornwall in South
West England and connected to the National Grid via a subsea cable.
Groups of wave energy devices will be connected to Wave Hub and
float on or just below the surface of the sea to assess how well
they work and how much power they generate before going into full
commercial production. There are four berths available at Wave Hub,
each covering two square kilometres. Wave Hub will have an initial
maximum capacity of 20MW (enough electricity to power approximately
7,000 homes) but has been designed with the potential to scale up
to 50MW in the future. The project will be built in the summer of
2010 with the first wave energy devices expected to be deployed in
2011.
4. An independent economic impact assessment has calculated that
Wave Hub could create 1,800 jobs and inject £560 million in the UK
economy over 25 years. Almost 1,000 of these jobs and £332 million
could be generated in the South West.
5. Legal agreements have been signed with leading renewable
energy company Ocean Power Technologies Limited to take the first
berth at Wave Hub using its PowerBuoy wave energy converter. Images
of PowerBuoy can be downloaded at www.flickr.com/photos/southwestengland.
6. JDR Cable Systems Ltd has been appointed to manufacture the
26.5 km (16.5 mile) cable and hub assembly for Wave Hub at its
factory in Hartlepool in a contract worth £7.6 million.
7. Powermann Ltd of Poole in Dorset has been appointed to handle
the £1 million onshore electrical works that will connect Wave Hub
to the UK's National Grid network. The remaining packages of work
are expected to be let before the end of the year.
8. The RDA has awarded a research and development grant of
£229,000 to wave device developer Orecon in Bodmin, Cornwall, with
a view to the company coming to Wave Hub in the future.
9. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence
programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£347
million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) Convergence
Programmes will run until 2013 and follow the successful Objective
One Programme and prior to that Objective 5b.
10. The ERDF Programme investment is intended to boost the
region's economy by providing focussed support for business
creating better quality, higher paid jobs. This support includes
training and access to higher education, strengthening links
between academia and business, improved IT infrastructure,
additional high quality workspace and specialist support to boost
business productivity. www.convergencecornwall.com.