The Crown Estate, manager of the UK seabed granting rights to organizations to operate on the seabed, finalized a leasing round, which saw rights awarded for six new wave and tidal current demonstration zones and five new tidal stream sites across the UK. Each of these sites will have the potential to deliver between 10 and 30 MW capacity.
The UK is already a world leader in wave and tidal stream energy. Wales is seen as one of the most suitable places in the world for low velocity tidal energy.
Locations for the demonstration zones and project sites:
Organisation |
Location |
Zone type/project name |
Wave Hub |
North Cornwall |
Wave demonstration zone |
|
North Devon |
Tidal stream demonstration zone |
|
|
South Pembrokeshire |
Wave demonstration zone |
|
Siemens MCT |
Dorset |
Portland Bill, tidal stream project site |
|
Northern Ireland |
Strangford Lough, tidal stream project site |
|
|
Scotland |
Mull of Galloway, tidal stream project site |
|
EMEC |
Scotland |
Isle of Harris, wave demonstration zone |
|
Scotland |
Islay, tidal stream demonstration zone |
|
|
Scotland |
Stronsay Firth, tidal stream managed test facility project |
|
Menter Môn |
Wales |
West Anglesey, tidal stream demonstration zone |
Minesto |
Wales |
Holyhead Deep, tidal stream project site |
Minesto, for example, plans to start the installation of a 10 MW marine energy array in 2016. It will now further develop the project, which includes in depth environmental studies, detailed seabed mapping, cable routing, and commercial activities. The Holyhead Deep site is located approx. 7 km from the shore where the water depth is 80–90 m. The tidal currents are 1.5–2.5m/s. The area has been carefully selected to maintain separation from shipping lanes and to minimize the impact on other sea users.
Minesto says its tidal power plant, called Deep Green (pictured), is currently the only known marine power plant to generate electricity from low velocity tidal currents.
- Minesto, Gothenburg, Sweden
- The Crown Estate, London, UK
Also of interest:
- News: Breakthrough for Marine Energy,
ChemistryViews.org 13 November 2013
The power plant Deep Green works cost-effectively in low velocity tidal and ocean currents
