Energy firms line up for tidal project
Eight firms from around the globe commit to Anglesey scheme
GLOBAL renewable energy giants have signed up to help develop £500m of investment in tidal turbines off the coast of Anglesey.
The Morlais Tidal Energy Demonstration Zone was selected for its tidal energy resource, access to infrastructure such as Holyhead Port and potential National Grid connections.
Menter Môn, which is managing the seabed for the turbine scheme, ran a competitive process to allocate the Demo Zone(off the west coast of the island) - with 14 energy firms making an application. Now eight developers have been selected to move the ambitious project forward with the potential to create a significant number of green energy jobs on the island.
The successful developers include Californian tidal firm Aquantis, Nova Innovation, which is developing a tidal project in Scotland, and TidalStream, part of the global Schottel Hydro group.
John Armstrong, from TidalStream, said: “It is a privilege to part of the largest planned marine energy project in Wales, and we look forward to working with Morlais and the other stakeholders.
“One of the benefits of our Triton platform technology is the maximizing of local manufactured content. For our demonstrator in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia – due to be installed next year – the local content will be 75%, bringing manufacturing jobs and benefits to the local community.”
The Welsh Government has been an important supporter and has welcomed the progress made by Menter Môn.
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “This is an ambitious project that seeks to ensure Wales is at the forefront of the tidal energy sector and that areas such as Anglesey are well placed to derive maximum economic benefit from the testing, development and commercial exploitation of these innovative and technologically advanced devices.”
The consenting work and grid connection process is ongoing, and these eight commitments will provide added impetus to progress them.
The project is currently fundraising for the capital infrastructure build and is looking to secure Welsh European Funding Office grant as a substantial part of this. There is also an opportunity for private funders to get involved in the future.
Gerallt Llewelyn Jones, MD of Menter Môn, said: “We are extremely pleased with the results of our competition and are looking forward to welcoming the developers to North Wales later this month.
“This collaborative and technology neutral approach offers something entirely new in the marine energy industry. We are offering an opportunity to get involved in the future success of marine energy without having to pick winners. Anglesey has a real opportunity to become an important hub for the growth of tidal energy.
“The implications for supply chain opportunities and directly created jobs are substantial.”