Released August 26, 2010 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Plans for a tidal energy project off the west coast of Wales have been revealed by Marine Current Turbines (MCT) (Bristol, England) and project partner RWE npower renewables (Swindon, England), a subsidiary of German energy company RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany).
The companies have published plans to build a tidal array based around MCT's SeaGen tidal turbine off the northwest coast of the island of Angelsey. Located in a stretch of fast-moving waters known as the Skerries, up to nine SeaGen turbines will be installed that will generate 10 megawatts (MW) of power, making it one of the largest working tidal projects in the U.K. The Skerries Tidal Stream Array will generate enough power to supply electricity to up to 10,000 homes--approximately 20% of Anglesey's electricity demand.
A planning application for the project's turbines and undersea cables will be submitted next month to the Welsh Assembly Government. Subject to approval, the partners aim to have the array commissioned in 2013 or early 2014. The project will cost an estimated 86 million euros (($110 million).
MCT will draw on its experience from the full-size, 1.2-MW Seagen turbine that is located in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough. This turbine has been supplying power to the grid since 2008. Earlier this month, MCT announced that the SeaGen turbine there delivered its 2 millionth unit of electricity to the U.K. electricity grid. Operating around the clock, seven days a week, it is on course to be the first tidal system to meet the power generation criteria for the U.K. government's Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
SeaGen was one of six leading marine energy technologies to receive additional funding from the government in February this year. For additional information, see February 9, 2010, article - U.K. Wave Projects Get Funding Boost.
"We consider the Skerries stretch of water to be an ideal site for a small tidal farm, and we were keen to hear people's views before we finalise the planning application," said Joseph Kidd, development manager at MCT. "The exhibition was also an opportunity for people to learn more about the advantages of tidal power and how our scheme can benefit the Anglesey economy. The scheme will not only generate clean energy, but also give local firms the chance to be involved in the tidal farm's installation and operation."
Commenting on the plans for the Skerries tidal farm, Albert Owen MP said: "I welcome all forms of renewable energy and was pleased that people took the opportunity to look at this technology and the future that Anglesey has in tidal power."
Last March, Marine Current Turbines secured approval for a lease from The Crown Estate to deploy up to 66 SeaGen turbines off Brough Ness, on the southern end of the Orkney Islands off Scotland. The turbines will be rolled out in three phases during a four-year period on a 4.3-square-kilometre site. The Brough Ness tidal array will have a total generating capacity of 99 MW, generating enough power for nearly 100,000 homes.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
The companies have published plans to build a tidal array based around MCT's SeaGen tidal turbine off the northwest coast of the island of Angelsey. Located in a stretch of fast-moving waters known as the Skerries, up to nine SeaGen turbines will be installed that will generate 10 megawatts (MW) of power, making it one of the largest working tidal projects in the U.K. The Skerries Tidal Stream Array will generate enough power to supply electricity to up to 10,000 homes--approximately 20% of Anglesey's electricity demand.
A planning application for the project's turbines and undersea cables will be submitted next month to the Welsh Assembly Government. Subject to approval, the partners aim to have the array commissioned in 2013 or early 2014. The project will cost an estimated 86 million euros (($110 million).
MCT will draw on its experience from the full-size, 1.2-MW Seagen turbine that is located in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough. This turbine has been supplying power to the grid since 2008. Earlier this month, MCT announced that the SeaGen turbine there delivered its 2 millionth unit of electricity to the U.K. electricity grid. Operating around the clock, seven days a week, it is on course to be the first tidal system to meet the power generation criteria for the U.K. government's Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
SeaGen was one of six leading marine energy technologies to receive additional funding from the government in February this year. For additional information, see February 9, 2010, article - U.K. Wave Projects Get Funding Boost.
"We consider the Skerries stretch of water to be an ideal site for a small tidal farm, and we were keen to hear people's views before we finalise the planning application," said Joseph Kidd, development manager at MCT. "The exhibition was also an opportunity for people to learn more about the advantages of tidal power and how our scheme can benefit the Anglesey economy. The scheme will not only generate clean energy, but also give local firms the chance to be involved in the tidal farm's installation and operation."
Commenting on the plans for the Skerries tidal farm, Albert Owen MP said: "I welcome all forms of renewable energy and was pleased that people took the opportunity to look at this technology and the future that Anglesey has in tidal power."
Last March, Marine Current Turbines secured approval for a lease from The Crown Estate to deploy up to 66 SeaGen turbines off Brough Ness, on the southern end of the Orkney Islands off Scotland. The turbines will be rolled out in three phases during a four-year period on a 4.3-square-kilometre site. The Brough Ness tidal array will have a total generating capacity of 99 MW, generating enough power for nearly 100,000 homes.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
