Director - Commercial, Local Partnerships

Biography

• Jim has been part of the Welsh Government’s Marine Energy Programme (MEP) since it was established in 2020. MEP is intended to support nascent marine energy technologies by identifying challenges / barriers to development / deployment and exploring / delivering possible solutions. It covers Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW), tidal stream and tidal range • Jim leads on FLOW and tidal stream and over the last 4 years has helped secure Welsh Government investment in: o Match-funding early stages of ports preparatory work for possible upgrades to support FLOW at both Port Talbot and Pembroke Port in 2022/3 and 2023/4 o Menter Mon Morlais Ltd to ensure early viability as the levels of deployment of tidal stream devices (the source of revenue for the company) ramp up over time • Jim is currently providing the secretariat for the Welsh Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group announced by the First Minister at the end of 2024. The aim of the group is to develop a plan with clear actions to support offshore wind deployments off the Welsh coast, to both ensure their success and maximise the benefits that they bring to Wales (and the wider UK).