Waveney MP Peter Aldous questioned Minister David Willets recently over the research and development hubs envisaged to result from the BIS funded Offshore Renewables Catapult Centre in Glasgow.

Aldous probed the Minister over concerns that the specification for the Technology and Innovation Centre, now named the Catapult Centre, had been changed with regional hubs no longer forming part of its structure. Peter is promoting the East Anglian Coast as a strategic location for such a hub focussed on the OrbisEnergy Centre in Lowestoft which has built up a considerable amount of expertise in offshore renewable energy with the backing of leading universities from East Anglia, Cranfield, Suffolk and Essex.

Mr Aldous said:

“The Government has announced that the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Centre will be in Glasgow with a base in Blyth, but I am keen to ensure that the expertise we have on the East Coast is recognised and that the area is considered as a regional hub.”

FULL TEXT:

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): Given that we now know that the new Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult centre will be in Glasgow, with a base in Blythe but with no regional hubs around the country as originally envisaged, can the Minister outline how the considerable expertise and resources found on the East Anglia coast can be best utilised?

Mr Willetts: The Government recognise the strong energy and offshore renewable sector in East Anglia. It is the intention that the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will provide a national capability that will be available fully to companies from all the English regions.

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