Context
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (part of Innovate UK) developed the Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence (MEECE) in Pembroke Dock, South West Wales to provide innovation support for renewable marine energy activity taking place around the coast of Wales. The project is part funded by ERDF and Swansea Bay City Deal, as well as the Catapult and has been working with university partners as well as its own team of experienced engineers to support Welsh organisations in the development of renewable marine energy products and the supply chain. To support the project, MEECE commissioned Wavehill to provide an evaluation of the operation.
Approach
Wavehill completed an inception evaluation, developing the tools and frameworks against which the MEECE operation would be assessed. An interim evaluation looked at the processes that MEECE had implemented to deliver the project and explore opportunities for improvement, drawing on primary evidence collected from in depth consultations with the supported organisations and internal and external stakeholders. The final evaluation will focus on the impacts and outcomes achieved by MEECE and how it has supported the innovation and development of new technology and supply chain solutions to foster growth and improvement in the marine renewable energy sector in Wales and more broadly.
Impact
The evaluation has helped the MEECE operation identify challenges and improve its delivery functions, while establishing the achievements to date. The impacts identified will support future funding applications and demonstrate the opportunities of collaborative support programmes of this nature in facilitating renewable energy development.