£4.5m for wave hub project
Funds announced to boost wave power
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Friday, 18, Aug 2006 08:29
The government has earmarked £4.5 million for a new marine energy project.
As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's £50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund, the Wave Hub scheme, to be located ten miles off the Cornish coast, aims to connect up to four innovative wave energy units to the national grid.
The South West of England Regional Development Agency is coordinating the ambitious project, which is expected to cost £20 million.
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said the UK was leading the world in developing the infrastructure to harness the power of the seas.
"We said in the energy review that we will be consulting later this year on how we can make the production of marine energy under the renewables obligation more valuable for developers but we have again underlined the government's ongoing commitment with the injection of up to £4.5 million into the wave hub," he said.
But Mr Wicks said the project would have to pass "a robust consent" process before becoming a reality.
He said the "shining" and "innovative" project could end up providing three per cent of Cornwall's electricity needs, powering 7,500 homes.
Jane Henderson, chief executive of the South West of England Regional Development Agency, said the announcement was a "significant" milestone for the wave hub project.
Should the European Commission grant planning permission, the wave hub could come into operation in two years time.