COMMUNITY
Nova believes that engaging with local people is essential to develop a tidal energy array.
 
It enables everyone to find out about the project and raise any questions and/or concerns they may have. This dialogue leads to better understanding of local life, opportunities, and ways in which the community can get involved.
We used this approach in the Shetland Islands in Scotland where we have built strong and lasting relationships. The input of local fishermen and support from the local community made it possible to deliver the world’s first offshore tidal array.
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Input from the community on the Llŷn Peninsula is helping to develop their wonderful tidal resource. We are engaging with local people, groups, companies and regulatory bodies to develop plans that tap into this source of clean, predictable tidal energy in Bardsey Sound.
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As well as supplying power to the mainland on the LlÅ·n Peninsula, the project could help create a blue energy island where Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) is powered by the seas around its shores. We are in discussions with the Bardsey Island Trust and local residents about the potential to deliver power to the island.
Engaging with the Ynys Enlli Tidal Project
Nova’s preferred engagement is personal, face-to-face meetings with communities and local groups.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions has limited this approach from 2020 until now.
We have used other forms of engagement including phone calls and online meetings, but we hope to return to face-to-face meetings as restrictions are lifted.  Ways to engage with the project include: 
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Public meetings, local presentations and conferences
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Newsletters 
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Site visits 
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Videos - the Enlli tidal project featured in the BBC’s Countryfile TV programme which you can view here
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Local and national media including newspapers, radio, TV and online 
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Nova’s website and social media 
Community Benefits
The Ynys Enlli Tidal Project has the potential to bring a wide range of benefits including:  
  
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Opportunities to boost the local economy – jobs, apprenticeships, and work for local companies including vessel, onshore and environmental monitoring services. 
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A locally sourced and environmentally friendly source of energy that works in harmony with the marine wildlife and has no visual impact on the landscape. 
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Educational resource for schools, colleges and universities who would like to learn more about tidal energy. 
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Academic opportunities including research and development.
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Cleaner air due to reduction in the use of fossil fuels. 
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Opportunities to find creative solutions for local energy needs e.g., the world’s first tidal powered electric vehicle (EV) charge point in Shetland  here.
Interested groups and organisations
Key groups and organisations involved with the Ynys Enlli Tidal Energy Project include:
Local residents
We want to make sure local people can get involved and have a say in the project. 
The National Trust
The National Trust is a significant landowner on the Llŷn peninsula, including the Aberdaron area. Nova has been working with the Trust to look at options for where the electricity cable could come ashore, and the potential to provide power to charge electrical vehicles in Aberdaron. 
Local councils and politicians
Nova has met with local councillors, local Members of the Senedd (AM) and local Members of Parliament (MPs).
Bardsey Island
Nova is working with residents of Bardsey Island and the Bardsey Island Trust to explore how the Ynys Enlli tidal project could bring benefits to the island, and potentially enable a year-round thriving community to develop on the island again.
Local businesses
Nova is keen to work with local businesses and harness their expertise and experience to develop the Ynys Enlli tidal project. 
Local fishermen
Fishing and potting are important activities in the waters around Ynys Enlli, and we are working closely with local fishermen and the Welsh Fishermen’s Association to share information.
This is developing the project in ways that will avoid conflict with potting and fishing around Ynys Enlli.
Local schools and young people
Nova has visited many primary and secondary schools and colleges in the local area, including Aberdaron, Botwnnog and Nefyn Primary Schools, Botwnnog Comprehensive, and youth groups, such as Rhiw Young Farmers.
Marine Energy Wales
Nova is a member of Marine Energy Wales (MEW) and we work closely with the organisation to advance tidal energy in Wales.
Welsh universities
Nova is working with Welsh universities on engineering design development and environmental research for the project. For example, we worked with Bangor University and the Sea Watch Foundation to develop ‘Sea Watcher’, an app for users to log sightings of marine mammals. Sightings gathered via the app can be used in the environmental assessment for the Enlli Tidal project. 
Environmental organisations
Nova is acutely aware of how important the natural environment of Enlli is and we take our environmental responsibilities seriously. We are working collaboratively with key environmental organisations, including the North Wales Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Sea Watch Foundation, and wardens on Ynys Enlli.
The Welsh Government
Nova has met with the First Minister Mark Drakeford, Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, and Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Energy, Environment and Rural Affairs to discuss the Ynys Enlli project.
They are very supportive of the project and the contribution it could make to addressing  the climate emergency.
YnNi Llŷn 
YnNi LlÅ·n is a community group established to tackle fuel poverty on the LlÅ·n Peninsula and surrounding areas.
Nova is working in collaboration with YnNi Llŷn to explore how the Ynys Enlli project can deliver locally generated renewable electricity and help address this issue.