Marine Energy Winners Announced in U.K.

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - Two firms have emerged as the winners of the U.K. government's funding for tidal array demonstration projects.

Meygen (London, England) and SeaGeneration Wales Limited (Bristol, England), a joint venture between Marine Current Turbines (MCT) (Bristol, England) and project partner RWE npower renewables (Swindon, England), have been awarded a share of the government's €23 million ($30 million) fund, the Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD). Launched last year, it aims to support the development and testing of pre-commercial marine devices in array formations at sea. The U.K. government believes that marine energy could supply up to 20% of its total electricity demand by 2050.

Announcing the winners, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, said: "This £20 million will give MeyGen and SeaGeneration Wales the boost they need to leap to the next level and test their innovative turbines in formations out at sea. These projects will provide valuable insight into how best to harness the power of the sea and take us one vital step closer to realising the full potential of marine in our future energy mix. The U.K., with its amazing natural resource and outstanding technical know-how is already leading the way on marine power for the rest of the world to follow, and I want to ensure we stay top of this table."

SeaGeneration Wales aims to build Wales' first tidal array project off the northwest coast of Anglesey in 2015, originally applying for permission in March 2011. The Skerries Tidal Stream Array will be comprised of up to nine, twin rotor SeaGen turbines, arranged across an area of 0.56 square kilometers, which will use the tidal flow to generate enough power for more than 10,000 homes on the island of Anglesey, or approximately 20% of its needs. The project is valued at €79 million ($111 million).

Last year, German engineering giant, Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) (Munich, Germany) bought the majority stake in leading tidal turbine manufacturer, Marine Current Turbines (MCT) (Bristol, England), makers of the SeaGen turbine. For additional information, see February 23, 2012, article - Siemens Dives into Tidal Energy Market.

"We are very pleased that the Skerries project being developed by Sea Generation Wales Ltd has been selected for the £10 million Marine Energy Array Demonstration award," commented CEO of Siemens Energy Hydro & Ocean Unit, Achim Wörner. "The Skerries project located in Anglesey, Wales, will be one of the first arrays deployed using the Siemens owned Marine Current Turbines SeaGen S tidal turbines. The 10-megawatt (MW) array will be fully operational in 2015."

In 2010, Meygen was awarded a lease for its ambitious 400 MW Inner Sound tidal project within the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters in Scotland. The government funding will be used to advance the project. For additional information, see November 18, 2010, article - MeyGen Secures 400-Megawatt Tidal Energy Project in Scotland.

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