Tidal energy firm’s boost for Morlais

ANGLESEY received a further boost to its ambition to be a centre of excellence for tidal stream energy with another major marine energy developer committing to the project

Morlais, the tidal stream energy demonstration zone off the west coast of Anglesey, and award-winning Orkney-based Orbital Marine Energy have teamed up to sign a new agreement.

The deal will see a commercial-scale array of Orbital’s recently unveiled ‘O2’ tidal turbine, with each 2MW unit capable of producing electricity equivalent to the demands of 1,500 typical UK homes.

Morlais is run by Anglesey social enterprise Menter Môn.

The first stage of the project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, aims to secure consent for the development of the demonstration zone.

Stage two will put the necessary infrastructure in place for developers of tidal energy converters such as Orbital to demonstrate their technology on a commercial scale. The project has the potential to create one of the largest tidal stream energy sites in the world.

Gerallt Llywelyn Jones, director with Morlais, said: “This is great news for us and shows that there is confidence in what we are aiming to achieve in Anglesey.

“Orbital Marine Power has a great reputation for innovation in this sector and we are delighted to be working closely with them.

“One of our key aims is to secure maximum benefit to the community through the project, by creating jobs and generating income to be re- invested locally through Menter Môn initiatives.

“Orbital’s technology is designed around the use of locally-based workboat vessels and service teams for all installation and maintenance so they will be a great fit towards meeting our objectives.”

Orbital Marine’s CEO Andrew Scott said: “The Morlais project gives us line of sight to a commercial and scalable tidal energy array in UK waters.

“The concentration of tidal energy off the coast here, supported by great infrastructure in North Wales, makes this an ideal location to develop a marine industry that can create new demand for skills and services both locally and further afield.

“So, we are delighted to be working with the Morlais team to help realise the tidal power opportunity that exists on Anglesey.”