A PEMBROKESHIRE-based firm has been awarded more than £10million to develop technologies that could put Wales on the global energy map.

Bombora Wave Power Europe will use the EU funding to design and test a wave energy converter, capable of generating large amounts of electricity.

On Tuesday (September 11) Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford visited the firm's base in Pembroke Dock, for a tour of the waterway.

Mr Drakeford said: "The potential that marine energy offers for Pembrokeshire and the whole of Wales is immense."

"We know for 50 years or more Wales’ geography has been an impediment to economic development, being on the western fringe of Europe, with long supply chains," he said.

"Now, in an era of energy shortage, Wales’ geography is suddenly on our side

"We have all the raw ingredients that you need to create sustainable energy, whether it’s wind or waves or water, and Pembrokeshire is so fantastically placed for all of that."

"Denmark has used its position in relation to wind energy to create an industry worth billions, with a huge amount of jobs, and which makes them a world leader," he said.

"Pembrokeshire could be the place to do that for waves.

"That’s why as a Welsh Government, using EU money, we’ve been very keen to invest in those technologies that have those potential."

He said firms were getting ever closer to finding the technology that "turns the theory of marine energy into something that will be saleable across the whole world".

The £15m project is expected to create up to 20 skilled jobs, and Bombora is already employing 17 people in its Pembroke Dock base.

Bombora's managing director, Sam Leighton said: “Bombora is very grateful to secure the £10.3m EU support package for our exciting 1.5MW trial project.

"Since setting up our European headquarters in Pembrokeshire last year we have been working with local suppliers and have quickly grown our talented team to work on this exciting new project.”

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “This investment is excellent news for the local economy and the wider marine technology industry.

"Clean energy will play an important role in the development of our prosperous, low carbon economy and help us deliver our aim of reducing emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050.”